Martin Graham

Martin David Graham (October 23, 1958 - January 25, 2026)

Martin David Graham, 67, passed away January 25, 2026, outliving the Bears’ Super Bowl hopes by one week.

Born October 23rd, 1958, to David Francis and Mary Ellen (née Casey), Marty was the eldest of five children, and grew up in Old Irving Park. A neighborhood guy, he met his future wife, Patricia (Patty) Janet O’Leary, at a party hosted by his cousin, her close friend. They were married in 1983, and went on to have Lauren Mary and Steven Christian, the latter whose name broke with family tradition because his wife refused to have a child named Steve Martin, a condition to which Marty eventually acquiesced.

After receiving his Masters in Sociology from Northwestern University, he earned his Certified Public Account (CPA) from the University of Illinois, and in 1988 he joined the firm which would eventually become Sabella & Graham, P.C. As a partner at a small local business, he enjoyed being involved in the area’s professional community, remaining an active member of the Park Ridge Lions Club and the St. Patrick High School Estate and Tax Advisory Council.

Despite his Northside roots, Marty was a dedicated White Sox acolyte, making the pilgrimage to Comiskey Park annually when ticket sales opened. He continued this tradition well after virtual ticket purchases were invented. He was also an avid fan of public transit, once challenging a judge in traffic court to quiz him on Chicago Transit Authority* (CTA) bus routes by number; he correctly named them all, including points of origin and terminus, and the year defunct routes ceased service. The ticket was dismissed.

Marty was preceded in death by his father, and is survived by his mother, Mary Ellen Matheson; his siblings, Kevin, Brian, Mary, and Colleen; as well as his wife and children.

A wake will be held February 3, 2026 at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Illinois. 60706 from 3-9pm. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).