Martin S. Roth

‍‍Martin S. Roth, age 70, of Ashland, MA, died peacefully on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at home surrounded by his loving family. Marty was a quiet, steady light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. His journey on this earth was marked by love, compassion, and generosity. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and those whose lives were touched by him.

Marty was born on June 1, 1955, in Jackson Heights, NY to Murray and Phyllis (Weinberg) Roth. He was raised in Queens and attended Stuyvesant High School. After graduating at age 16, he attended Brandeis College. He went on to become a software engineer, eventually holding senior leadership positions at Software House, Mystic River Software, Wang, and Oracle Corporation. At Oracle he headed up a division while also serving as a Chief Technical Architect for over two decades. He was awarded numerous patents for innovations in database technology.

Outside of work, Marty was a voracious reader, an avid Patriots fan, and a generous, but private philanthropist and volunteer. A true nerd at heart, he was a lifelong learner devoted to expanding his understanding of the universe through the study of physics, mathematics, and astronomy. As a philanthropist he avoided the limelight, quietly funding charities that supported medical research, childhood education, animal welfare, and unhoused veterans. He also loved fostering kittens, cats, and dogs -- even the “surprise” ones his wife and daughter somehow forgot to mention. What would start as a temporary stay in his study, would often become a permanent residence at the relentless lobbying of his children.

Marty is survived by his loving wife Paula (Dempsey) Roth, his son Steven Roth and his wife Mary, his daughter Julia Roth and her partner Brian Jones, and his grandson, Jack Jones. He also leaves behind his sister Randie Bader and her husband Alan, and his sister-in-law, Barbara Dempsey, as well as cherished nephews, a niece, cousins, and dear friends.

His family would like to thank all who reached out with prayers, warm remembrances, dinners, visits and kind gestures. They would especially like to thank his devoted aides Sauda, Grace, and Israel, and Sue and Marion from VNA Care, his OT Amanda, and his oncologist Philip Saylor at MGH.

A Celebration of Marty’s Life will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11:30 AM in the Pickering & Son Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough, MA. Burial will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery, Westborough.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, MA https://baypathhumane.org/support-us/ or Mass General Cancer Center //https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/cancer-center.‍