STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Known for her spirit and love of laughter, Martha Alicia Glass, or “Alita,” as her loved ones called her, died Oct. 9 at age 80.
Born on April 9, 1945, in Lima, Peru, Martha lived a life as vibrant as her name, sometimes playfully introducing herself in its full, regal form — Marcela Martha Alicia Amanda Del Portal Hinostroza de Glass.
Eager to pursue her ambitions, Martha came to the United States and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Hartford, an early milestone in a lifetime of ambition and achievement.
After marrying the love of her life, Calvin F. Glass, the couple initially settled in Brooklyn before making their home in Eltingville in the 1970s. Together, they raised three children and shared 57 years of marriage filled with love, laughter, and adventure, before Calvin’s passing earlier this year.
In her professional life, Martha was among the first wave of working mothers, breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of Wall Street, where she worked as a market analyst and 401(k) adviser.
Martha with her mother Esperanza Hinostroza and her sister Rosario Susana. (Courtesy of the Glass Family)
Despite her professional success, Martha’s greatest pride was always her family, both by blood and bond. Known as Martha to colleagues and Alicia or Alita to family and friends, she had a gift for making everyone she met feel like family.
A lifelong Elvis Presley fan and lover of roses, diamonds, and carnations, Martha brought joy and sparkle wherever she went. She lived by a motto she often shared with her daughter:
“There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to go through it.”
Martha with her family, Diane Maria Louisa Violetta Esposito, Calvin Floyd Glass, David Glass, and Jamie Denise Glass.(Courtesy of Kris Dresen)
Martha is survived by her children — Jamie Denise (Kris), David (Michelle), and Diane (Martin) — and those she loved as her own: her niece Rosario, and nephews Alfredo (Jessica), Edward (Anna), and Anthony (Jacqui).
She was the proud grandmother of Samuel (Kathryn), Joanna, Katherine (Jeremy), Matthew, Olivia, Christopher, Samantha (Chris), James, and Haylie; and the adoring great-grandmother of Jayce and Cameron, with a great-granddaughter joyfully expected near her birthday. She also cherished her great-nieces Alexis and Amaya, and great-nephews Alfredo, Anthony, Aiden, and Edward Jr.
Martha was predeceased by her beloved husband Calvin, her sister Rosario A. Balarin, and her mother Esperanza Hinostroza.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.