Carolyn Martindale

Carolyn Martindale Los Angeles, CA Carolyn (Cox) Martindale, 78, gracefully and peacefully passed into the ethers June 10, 2017 in her residence in West Hollywood, CA. She was born Dec. 21, 1938 to John Cox and Ruth Templeton Cox of Indiana, PA. Carolyn graduated from Columbiana High School in 1956; earned a Bachelor's with honors in Journalism from Kent State University in 1960 and her Master's in 1981. She was a member of Theta Sigma Phi Women's Journalism Fraternity. In 1960 she moved to New York City where she worked as Editor for the United Presbyterian Church and then the NY State Public Affairs Committee. In 1964, she married Tom Martindale, her husband of 46 years. The couple returned home where she worked as a reporter for the Youngstown Vindicator before beginning her career at Youngstown State University. Carolyn served as the Director of the Journalism Program at YSU for 23 years and was the Faculty Advisor to the Jambar for 15 years; she was loved by her students. She was instrumental in developing YSU's Journalism Program and, in 1980, saw the Jambar into the modern age, completely computerizing its publishing process. When Carolyn retired in 1996 the YSU Board of Trustees conferred upon her the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of her years of distinguished service. Carolyn authored numerous books. In 1980, while writing her Masters Dissertation, Carolyn became a pioneer in the study of how minorities were unjustly covered by the press during the Civil Rights Movement. She called attention to how the established news media was--under covering, prejudicially covering, or not covering at all--the injustices suffered by minorities in America. Over the next 17 years, Carolyn published over a dozen books on the subject including "White Press and Black America" (Greenwood Press, 1986) which was selected by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Book of the Year. She was truly ahead of her time. Carolyn had a great interest in herbs and was a Founding Member of Holborn Herb Growers Guild and the Editor of their cookbook, Herbal Fare. She planted two public herbal gardens: one at the Canfield Fair and the other in Boardman Township Park. In addition, she managed a peach farm, which boasted over 500 fruit trees, and was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in New Middletown. Upon retirement in 1997, Carolyn and her husband moved to Tucson, AZ where she volunteered her time at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and enjoyed beading with her friends and spending time at the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. She is survived by her son, Tom Martindale II, her daughter, Holly Welton and sister, Joyce Rice. Her New Orleans style Jazz Funeral will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 10857 Main St. in New Middletown on Saturday, June 24; calling hours from 11 to 11:45 am with services starting at High Noon. The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to Edna House for Women at PO Box 602686, Cleveland, OH 44102.