Marti Savarin

Marti Savarin (nee' Reinhart) born March 3, 1947 in Seattle, WA died peacefully June 20, 2017 at her home in Seattle surrounded by family and loved ones. Funeral mass to be held on Wednesday, July 12th at 3pm at St. Alphonsus church in Ballard with celebration of life to follow on site.

Marti attended Catholic parochial school from primary at St. Theresa through secondary at Forrest Ridge and completing college at Seattle University where she graduated with a degree in professional home economics. After earning her bachelor's degree, she went to work for Westin hotels in downtown Seattle. Quickly promoted, Marti was given the opportunity to transfer to Houston, TX where she met and fell in love with her soon to be husband, Paul Savarin, also a transplant to TX.

Leaving Texas, the couple moved again and settled in Memphis, TN, a new city for each, for nearly 30 years where they raised their only daughter, Sabrina Savarin. The couple embarked on many joint entreprenureal ventures including party and event coordination for the Memphis Queen line riverboats and later opening a restaurant/blues night club called Blues Alley. Marti enjoyed many years as a restauranteur and well-known local business woman in the mid-South. Following the closure of Blues Alley, Marti persued a Master's degree in Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Memphis and embarked on a career at Memphis City schools nutrition and food services division for many years.

In 1994, with ailing parents still in Seattle, Marti returned home to remain in Seattle for the next 23 years. In 2001, at the age of 54, Marti was diagnosed with advanced stage ovarian cancer. Beating all the odds, Marti not only survived her initial diagnosis, but lived a full and adventurous life for the next 15 years. Marti joined the Ballard pool, participated in swimming exercise nearly everyday and enjoyed wonderful friendships with her pool pals! She also found love again and cruised the world for nearly 5 years with her partner, Dennis Warren! When not embarking on world sightseeing, Marti was home with her daughter and son-in-law, Aaron Rehling, and was actively involved in the life of her only grandson, Miles Rehling.

Marti is greatly missed by her surviving family members including her daughter, son-in-law, grandson, boyfriend and many close cousins and relatives as well as many friends in Seattle and Memphis. She was an inspiration to us all!