Joseph Martin was a man who lived larger than life. That spirit showed itself in so many ways, especially in the stories he told, where a fish the size of a trout might somehow grow to rival Jaws. He could be loud, set in his ways, and stubborn at times, but those were only small pieces of a much bigger man. A man who found joy in the outdoors, whether fishing on the Great Lakes, heading out to sea, or going on big game hunts. He took pride in those experiences, displaying only the best trophies, each one carrying a story he was always ready to share.

But the truth is, the only thing he ever exaggerated more than the size of his catch was the size of his love for his family, and even that was never really an exaggeration at all. He loved his many Scottish Terriers over the years. He also loved to push your buttons, teasing just enough to get a reaction, challenging you in a way that kept things lively. It was his way of connecting, of showing affection in his own unmistakable style.

He was a hard worker who took pride in everything he did. But most of all, he took pride in his greatest accomplishments, his family. His children: Diane, Sheryl, Lisa, and Joe; and the children he selflessly adopted: Art, Gilbert, Liz, and Cindy. His legacy lives on through his 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Though his stories may have stretched the truth, the love he gave never did—and that love will continue to live on in all of us. A celebration of life will be held Sunday May 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Firtion Adams, 76 Broad Street Westfield. www.firtionadams.com