Obituary of Vasco Campos Martins

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Vasco Martins, 91, of Ashburn, Virginia went to his heavenly home on July 30, 2023. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, family member, friend, and child of God. Vasco was born on January 4, 1932 in Portugal Antonio Borges Martins and Ana de Campos (Coelho) Martins. Vasco grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts with his two sisters: Natalie (Martins) Flitcroft, and Irene (Martins) Levya.  Vasco attended college at Milwaukee School of Engineering and went on to obtain his master’s degree in engineering. He married Elizabeth A. McAleer on July 14, 1963 at St. Edward’s Church in Providence, Rhode Island, and they later moved to McLean, Virginia, and then Reston, Virginia, where they lived for over fifty years. Vasco and Elizabeth had four children together: Ellen Marie (Martins) Berg, Paul Anthony Martins, Joseph James Martins, and David McAleer Martins. Vasco was a faithful husband and a dedicated and hardworking father.

Vasco lived the American dream. His parents emigrated from Portugal to seek a better life in the United States. Vasco grew up tinkering with radios as a boy and used this knowledge to serve as an engineer with the United States Navy during the Korean War (and he was the undisputed boxing champion in his entire fleet). He attended college on the G.I. Bill and earned his master’s degree from one of the country’s most prestigious institutions, Yale University.  He loved his work, was an expert in his field, and ultimately started his own company providing consultation services for the United States Navy. But he would say that all of these accomplishments paled in comparison to the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ and telling others about Him.

Vasco Campos Martins is survived by his daughter Ellen (Russ), his sons Paul (Karen), Joseph (Katrina), and David (Rebekah), ten grandchildren (Joshua, Julia, James, Titus, Hope, Madison, Alysse, Josie, Isaiah, and Asher), as well as other family members. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19 at Adams-Green Funeral Home Chapel: 712 Elden Street, Herndon Virginia. A graveside service will be held immediately thereafter. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, donations can be made in Vasco’s memory to First Baptist Church of Easton, where his son Paul serves as the minister (115 Idlewild Avenue Easton, Maryland 21601).