Martin Nopola

He attended community college for a few years and then enlisted into the U.S. Navy in 1953 where he enrolled in the officer flight training program and served as a pilot through 1957.

Self-taught in many disciplines — from photography at age 13, when he made his own enlarger from a light bulb and a large coffee can; to playing the classical guitar in his twenties when he was in the Navy; to working in ceramics from the 1970s through the 1990s; and eventually to woodworking to build baroque style classical guitars from the mid 1990s to 2015 — he sought beauty in the colors and sounds of his dreams.

He always enjoyed hearing about the natural surroundings in Vermont of mountains, hills, wetlands, fields and lakes and ponds from Deborah’s pursuits through the years. In recent years, he enjoyed sitting outdoors and listening to the summer birdsong. His favorite bird songs were red-eyed vireo and white-throated sparrow.

He is survived by his wife Deborah; daughter Jennifer Helle of Chicago; son Dale Nopola and his wife Regina and their son Max of Maryville, Tenn.; sister Judith Olson of Lombard, Ill.; brother John Nopola of Lakeside, Calif.; and brother Paul Nopola of California. Another brother, Joel Nopola, predeceased him.

An outdoor memorial ceremony will be held by family at a later date.