Generations of children knew the friendly woman who lived in the grey clapboard historic house on the corner of Independence Avenue and Sixth Street SE. With a ready smile she would wave to them from the veranda, chat to them and encourage them to inspect the several, colorful bird-houses she had in her yard.
Many people will how she encouraged the neighborhood to donate bird-houses which she hung in the trees of Turtle Park, the pocket park at 7th St. and North Carolina Ave SE, that she cared for. And there are many around who got to know her when, as a single mother with two young daughters, she worked at The Tune Inn to pay her way through nursing school.
We are of course talking about the delightful Muriel Martin-Wein. Muriel, 84, died in late December, after a fall at her home. Sadly, her husband Jim, had taken a tumble just a few days earlier, broke his hip, and was in hospital recovering from replacement surgery. At the time of publication he was in a rehab facility.
For the moment their pre-Civil War home lies silent. But the memories of Muriel abound. She even gained fame outside Capitol Hill. In 2007 she was featured in the Washington Post for the way in which she had nurtured and brought back to life a dying fig tree in her front yard. Everyone who ed by was welcome to pluck a ripe fig, or two. “Thank you, Miss Muriel!” the children would cry out.
The article included two of Muriel’s favorite fig recipes, a tart and canned spiced figs. Her culinary wizardry (well known to those lucky enough to sit around her gourmet dining table or attend the lavish parties she loved to throw) during fig season turned every sort of food you can think of – chutney, ice-cream, bread, salsa, cake, jam – into delectable offerings.
The program for her memorial service, on January 16th, at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church on 4th St, SE, included a short obituary, written by her daughters Ginger Staron, of Afton, Virginia and Beth Winters, of Mattituck, New York. In part it read: “She was always fun, laughed often and had the biggest and most generous heart. She enjoyed helping her neighbors and being part of the community.”
How true were those words. Muriel’s community ions were many and varied. Aided by like-minded volunteers she spearheaded the maintenance of Turtle Park and beautified it with flowering plants. One of the last grand events in the North Hall of Eastern Market before it burned down was a dance, organized by Muriel, to raise money for the park. It was dubbed “A Spring Fling.”
It was such an enormous success that enough money was raised for Muriel to find a sculptor who could replace the shabby, wornout turtles. Her involvement with the Capitol Hill Garden Club was also an important part of her life. And a charity close to her heart was Bread for the City, where she worked for many years as a volunteer. And when it came to fun, Muriel was an enthusiastic member of the Red Hat Societywhich allowed her to indulge her renowned sartorial style, reveling in the mandated red and purple outfits.
In an emotional tribute to her mother, Beth, recalled the days of her and Ginger’s childhood, how Muriel made them the prettiest of dresses – and how they would regularly take her breakfast in bed, not just on Mother’s Day, accompanied by notes of love and affection. And how, later in life, they rejoiced when Muriel, in 1980, moved to DC, got her RN degree, met and married Jim, and found the life she’d always longed for. A life which included two grandsons, followed in recent years by five great-grandchildren. All of whom she reveled in and loved to spoil.
Pastor Rachel Landers Vaageness, in her address, touched on all of Muriel’s worthy works – and her fun side that captivated so many. She became close to Muriel in the almost five years years she’s led the Capitol Hill Presbyterian congregation. And in a reference to the party-giver that Muriel was, she said—to a knowing murmur of laughter— “We like to say that those who have died are ‘at rest’. But I like to think that Muriel is up there doing some major party-prep for when the rest of us arrive.” Adding: “Fortunately for Muriel, Jesus also loves a good party. He always made sure there was enough to eat and drink. He ate with sinners and strangers and never ed up an opportunity to get together with friends. He knew the power of hospitality, just like Muriel.”
I was honored to be asked by the family to also say a few words. The essence of my eulogy was: “It’s going to take a long time to accept that Muriel is no longer that presence we all loved. It’s no exaggeration to say that whoever was lucky enough to encounter Muriel was totally charmed. She possessed that enviable characteristic of, without effort, drawing you into her metaphorical embrace at first meeting.”
Muriel was born and grew up in Forest Hills, NY. Later her family moved to Southold, Long Island, where she went to high school. Eventually she found her way to DC – and Capitol Hill. She worked at George Washington Hospital and later, for many years, as a hospice nurse.
Those who attended Muriel’s burial at Congressional Cemetery were struck by her impressive, unusual casket. It was sage-blue, reinforced cardboard embossed with flowers. As many remarked: it matched the sartorial elegance that Muriel always displayed.
The service ended with Muriel’s great friend and neighbor Jim Morton reading a poem he wrote for Muriel on her 75th birthday. It was a take on Cole Porter’s You’re the Top. At the end of the reading a church service protocol was broken by a burst of applause. A shortened version goes:
Muriel,
You’re the top!
You’re red hat mama,
You’re the top!
You’re the cat’s pajamas.
You’re the fairy queen
Who in her dream takes flight.
You’re a Browning poem,
a gastronome.
You’re dynamite!
You’re the flair
Of a bright crepe myrtle.
You’re the mayor
Of a park named turtle.
We’re wannabes,
We’re used to-be’s, we’re the flops.
But if, Muriel we’re the bottom,
You’re the top!
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Muriel Martin-Wein
A Warm Heart & A Green Thumb
by Pete McCall
Capitol Hill lost a beloved treasure on December 19. Former nurse, avid gardener and gracious hostess Muriel Martin-Wein died in a local hospital at age 84. She was instrumental in creating and maintaining the popular “Turtle Park” across from Eastern Market.
We first met Muriel at a neighbor’s home nearly 35 years ago after she won a DC chili cookoff contest. Not only could she concoct award-winning, delicious chili, Muriel was the life of every fete we attended with her for over three decades. Her dinner parties were festive, her spotless kitchen was well-organized, and her community involvement was inspirational. With her warm heart, green thumb and joyful personality, she brightened and beautified our community and enriched our lives.
On our 20th anniversary in 1992, Muriel gave us our favorite gift of all time—a flowering apple blossom tree that embellishes our back yard every spring. I think its beautiful snowy white blossoms rival those of the Japanese cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin.
Muriel and her husband Jim Wein’s own beautiful yard at 6th and Independence Avenue SE is a testament to her gardening skills; we enjoy figs from her tree. At nearby Turtle Park, she made sure the grass got mowed and the crepe myrtles were trimmed. Muriel was active in local garden clubs and the Red Hats (ladies) club where she widened her circle of friends. She encouraged Celeste to the women’s group and don a red hat the first Monday of the month for lunch at a different restaurant or member’s home, or perhaps a museum visit.
A native of Long Island, NY, Muriel moved here more than 50 years ago. She became a regular patron of the Tune Inn, where she waitressed in the 1970s and organized a team from the popular pub to cook her chili recipe at a citywide cookoff. She won. Muriel also organized a festive fundraiser for DC Children’s Hospital that included an auction at Garfield Park. In addition to the Tune Inn, one of her favorite watering holes was Tunnicliff’s Tavern.
Full of comion for others, Muriel switched jobs from waitressing to nursing many years ago. After her former husband, John Martin, ed away, she met Jim Wein for lunch at the Tune Inn on a snowy winter day. They married about eight years later. In addition to her beloved husband, Muriel is survived by two lovely daughters, Ginger and Beth, as well as two grandsons and five great grandchildren.
Muriel lived a full and interesting life. We will miss her radiant personality and longtime friendship.
