Arthur D. Martone

MARTONE, ARTHUR D. (66) , whose career as an accomplished New England sports editor and writer spanned over four decades, passed away Wednesday, shortly after being diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative illness.  He was the beloved husband of Kimberly (Parker) to whom he was married for 40 years; loving father of James Martone and the first-born son of the late Peter and Louise Martone of Cranston. Arthur began his sports career at the Providence Journal in 1972, ultimately working his way up to sports editor. He helped lead the Providence Journal’s online sports services before moving to NBC Boston Digital Sports for the last decade of his career. He retired in 2019, but continued to write for a number of online sites. Those who worked with Art admired his wisdom, wit, editorial prowess, and incredibly deep knowledge of New England sports. He mentored many sports writers coming up the ranks. His writing earned him accolades and awards, including being named Best Sports Columnist (1998) by Boston Magazine.  He was an early pioneer in digital sports media, hosting one of the first online sports blogs in New England.  He was an avid sports fan and a lifelong lover of the Boston Red Sox. His passion and knowledge of the Red Sox earned him a spot in the documentary The Curse of the Bambino (2003).  A lifelong resident of Cranston, he was a member of the Vestry at the Church of the Ascension, and very active in parish life.  He was inducted into the Cranston Hall of Fame in 2015 (and subsequently served on the Board). He served the RI Hockey Hall of Fame as both a board member and a writer and was a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Most importantly, Arthur was a genuinely kind man who lived life with a joyful spirit in friendship to others.  His daily life was enriched by staying close with friends, some of whom date back to his childhood.  He was ever-present to his extended family, spending countless wonderful hours with his sister, Linda (Martone) Reilly and her husband Vincent, his brother, David Martone and his wife Cheryl, his brother-in-law James Parker and his wife Maria, and his many nieces and nephews: Jessica (Parker) Johnson and her husband Jesse, Travis Parker and his wife Katie, Sarah VanFectmann and her husband T.J., Samantha Martone, Peter Reilly, Michael Martone and his wife Jesstina and Katie Reilly, as well as numerous grandnieces and grandnephews and close cousins.  He was loved and will be greatly missed by them all.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at the Church of the Ascension, 390 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, on Saturday at 10 a.m. VISITING HOURS are on Friday from 4-8 p.m.  Inurnment will be private.