Martyn’s family settled in Pasadena in 1887, later moving to Los Angeles in the 1890’s. In 1943, Martyn’s family returned to Pasadena where she attended Polytechnic School and Westridge School. She graduated from the Ethel Walker School in Connecticut and Stanford University.

During a business transfer to the East Coast, Martyn entered the real estate industry in 1981 and worked for Smith, Hekker, and Collins in Greenwich, Connecticut. Moving back to Pasadena in 1984, she joined the William Wilson Company. In 1987, she joined Coldwell Banker where she was a consistent member of the President’s Club and President’s Elite. She also became Executive Sales Director at Coldwell Banker Pasadena and the Architectural Director for the San Gabriel Valley. In 2011, Martyn joined deasy penner podley as Senior Partner.

Having been transferred across the Country, Martyn is very sympathetic to, and aware of, the needs of transferees. The first step in working with buyers unfamiliar with our area is “Martyn’s Area Tour.” It is a 2-3 hour drive through the various communities that includes 1-2 houses in their price range, historical data, in-depth school and community information and general neighborhood knowledge. “Oh, you are interested in a Spanish or Mediterranean house? Then we should be looking in the Cal-Tech neighborhood. That is where there is the greatest concentration of that architectural style.” Her familiarity with neighborhoods, schools and historical knowledge of the area is without parallel.

Community Involvement

Martyn has been an active community volunteer since the mid-1960’s. She held several Executive Board positions in the Junior League and trained as a “Special Docent” in the Huntington Library, Art Gallery, and Botanical Gardens.

Martyn is a Past-President of the Pasadena La Casita del Arroyo Foundation and currently, serves as Secretary on the Foundation Board. She also served as President of the Pasadena Garden Club where she received a Garden Club of America Civic Improvement Award (2011) and the Garden Club of America Medal of Merit (2014) for her “dedicated leadership to her Club and Community.”

She is also a past Board member of the Pasadena Beautiful Foundation and serves as an Advisor to the Board. For the past 10 years, Martyn has been the Pasadena Co-Chair for the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program.

Martyn has three grown children, eight grandchildren and is an ardent tennis player. She serves on several committees at the Valley Hunt Club.