Frances McIntyre Martinov

Sep. 25, 1925 - Dec. 23, 1954

Mrs. Frances G. Martinov, 29, daughter of Dr. George F. Green, 1515 E. Wayne St., was killed instantly Friday afternoon when her scarf became entangled in the rope of a ski lift on a 1,000-foot hill near Rochester, Minn.

Mrs. Martinov had made her home in Rochester for the last year with her husband, Dr. William Martinov on the staff Clinic there, and their two children, Pamela, 5 and Jeri Lynn, 3.

Her body, hanging by the scarf from the ski rope, several feet above the ground, was discovered by Dr. C. M. Garrett, also on the Mayo staff, who had gone to the hill to take his young son sledding. The ski lift is maintained by the fellows of the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Garrett said that he found Mrs. Martinov’s two children at the bottom of the lift, cold and crying for  their mother. He said that he followed the lift to near the summit of the hill, where he discovered Mrs. Martinov’s body.

Her skis were found about one third of the way up the hill, apparently at the point where her scarf was entangled in the continuously moving rope lift. It was indicated that she was dragged several feet before the rope and the scarf lifted her off the ground.

Dr. Garrett reported that he succeeded in loosening Mrs. Martinov’s body and getting it to the ground but that his attempts to administer artificial resuscitation were futile. Mrs. Martinov’s husband said that his wife and their children had gone to the hill by themselves to spend the afternoon.

The Martinov’s home has been in Mayowood, a suburb of Rochester. Dr. Martinov has been a fellow on the Mayo staff since October, 1953, shortly after his return to this country from duty with Army in Japan.

Mrs. Green went to Rochester early today to be with her daughter’s family. Dr. Green, University of Notre Dame football team physician, was in Dallas, Tex., for Notre Dame - Southern Methodist football game when he received word of his daughter’s death. He returned immediately to South Bend.

The body will be brought to the McGann Funeral Home here for the services and burial in South Bend.

Mrs. Martinov was born in Dowagiac, Mich., Sept. 25, 1925, coming to South Bend with her family about 24 years ago. Her marriage to Dr. Martinov took place in South Bend, June 9, 1948.

A graduate of John Adams High School and Indiana University, Bloomington, Mrs. Martinov was active in many civic projects while in South Bend. She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority at Indiana and the Business and Professional Women’s Club and Panhellenic in South Bend.

After their marriage, she and Dr. Martinov went to Charleston, S.C. for his internship and then to Pasadena, Calif., for his residency. She was with him for a time in San Antonio, Tex., after he enlisted in the Army, where he served two years, and spent the last three months with him in Japan.

Besides her parents, her husband and her children, she is survived by twin sisters, Suzanne of Boston, and Mrs. W.M. (Joanne) Knoop of South Bend; a brother, George Richard, Indianapolis, and an uncle and an aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Mark L Green of Dowagiac.

10/30/2021 DEC

06/02/2021 DEC

Frances McIntyre “Fran” Green Martinov

South Bend Tribune