Martha Nastronero Ogness was the third of four daughters of John and Martha Nastronero. Her love for math was inspired by her father, a prominent scientist at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Norco, California.
After graduating from San Diego State University in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Martha devoted the following two decades to raising a family. As a stay at home mom, she encouraged the importance of math to her children. Martha enjoyed helping out their elementary school classes. Her enthusiasm was welcomed and appreciated as she brought a projector and self prepared program to the class on a weekly basis. This effort was a source of pride for her own children, and the students loved being inspired by her. The days she assisted in the classroom fueled her desire to become a math teacher.
In 1991, twenty years after her San Diego State graduation, her children were all in school and her daytime parenting demands were lightened. This allowed Martha to fulfill her desire to teach math. She successfully acquired a teaching credential, and started teaching Algebra and Calculus at Roseville High School in Roseville, California. Aside from her love of math and teaching, her hours as a school teacher paralleled her kids' school hours which allowed her to pursue her first and most important role in life, being a mom to her four children. Along with her responsibilities to the school, her maintaining a happy and healthy living environment for her family, she never missed attending every soccer, baseball, and football game, every choir and dance performance and every important activity that took place in her kids' and grandchildren's lives.
As an ambitious math teacher, Martha developed and ran an annual Math Steeplechase in cooperation with McClellen Air Force Base to provide participants with a fun and challenging hands-on math experience. Her passion for math was well known by her students and obvious to anyone visiting her classroom. She continued teaching at Roseville High School and became both a well respected member of the staff and the head of the school's Math Department. During this time she also earned a master's degree in education from California State University Chico. Although she had achieved great and fulfilling success as a teacher, her greatest joy came from seeing all four of her children grow into adulthood.
In 2013, after inspiring math students for 23 years, health issues caused Martha to retire from the classroom. Throughout retirement she freely gave her time to help the children of neighbors and friends with their math struggles. Her evening activities were often interrupted with an hour or more FaceTime calls to Grandma, a title she so dearly loved, to help with math homework or to study for a test. She delighted when she received a call the next day reporting an 'A' had been achieved and the following appreciation, "I couldn't have done it without your help Grandma."
After surviving two successful battles with cancer and never once complaining of the difficulties that cancer brought to her daily life, Martha passed away in 2020 at just 70 years of age. Having been a successful teacher, mom, wife, and grandma, she left behind a husband of 49 years, four children, nine grandchildren, three sisters, lifelong friends, and many many past students with an appreciation for math.
As Martha loved to say, "If you can do math, you can do anything."
This scholarship is established with donations from her family, friends, and math lovers. With this continuing annual scholarship we honor the life and memory of Martha Nastronero Ogness in the hopes that it will assist a San Diego State University math student to continue with their educational journey.
How does one even begin to share memories of a shared childhood, a shared life.
Martha and I shared everything growing up and even were dressed like twins, I in blue, Martha in red. We shared a room for 18 years, filled with bedtime secrets, messy closets, but beds neatly made every morning. Hikes down the Grand Canyon, to the top of most of the local mountains and of course into Dad's hills on Saturday mornings.
Martha always did what ever was asked of her - from secretly eating broccoli stems at dinner to a myriad of requests.
Most important to me was her advice and help for babies - she was a "mom pro" of 4 when I was pregnant with my first. Most recently when our sweet granddaughter, Marion Sky, was born after a very rough entry into this world - Martha gave me some important words: "Praying is hoping. Faith is believing." But then suddenly she was gone - way too soon.
I believe Martha watches over Marion Sky in a special way and the rest of us as well. I ask her to every night and morning continue watching over all of us.
Martha is our own special angel. She is missed so much every day.
Mary Nastronero
Martha was a beautiful woman! I had the good fortune of reconnecting with her a few years ago and she was just as lovely as I had known her when we were kids. Martha and I had grown up in Corona, California. We went to Saint Edwards school. There I fell in love with her as did all of the boys in our class. In Sister Saint Sebastian's fifth grade class I got to sit directly behind her! She was so smart and it became a real test to my honesty not to cheat off of her.
Martha was one of those beautiful and loving people who made the world better for everyone! She is missed!
Gary Hoegner
I had the privilege to be Martha’s friend for almost 50 years in which we laughed, cried, and exercised together. Even with timespans between visiting (because life happens) our reconnects felt warm and comfortable.
There was so much I admired about Martha; her quiet dignity, her intelligence, her wisdom, her loyalty, her humility, her faith, her compassion, sense of community and greatest of all her commitment as a wife, mother, and grandparent. If we could all be 25% as good as Martha, we would still knock it out of the park and what a wonderful world it would be.
Thank you, Martha, for all the quiet words of wisdom you gave me and all the lives you touched. You are so missed. Love Sherry
Sherry Moore Stoltz
Martha, thank you for your encouragement during my college career working toward a degree in Computer Science (with a Mathematics minor). You were an amazing cheerleader always pushing me to be my best. And when I got my degrees and worked my awesome robotics job...I think you were more excited and proud of me and my accomplishments than my own family! Thank you for being a great example of a smart, strong, hardworking woman who wanted to see and help others around her succeed in all they do.
Sarah Condie
Spring Break mid-1990s. A flurry of new places, filled with new faces. An inside, personal introduction to California meets Arizona. The large (stature), gregarious Ogness family filling the evening with loud laughter, energetic conversations. A more subdued Martha, standing off to the side, beaming at her family and their friends; soaking all of it in. I will always remember Martha as the more quiet, always contemplative side of the Ogness ethos. Her love for her family shining brightly as they embark on the world, ready to leave their mark on everything and everyone.
M Landon
I was fortunate enough to have my mom as my Algebra teacher my freshman year at Roseville High School. Her expectations definitely exceeded my abilities. We spent countless hours at the kitchen table where her help was not always as appreciated as it should have been. Years later, I never felt more appreciative as she helped my kids with their Algebra and Calculus homework!!
My kids - at all stages along their math path - would get frustrated doing homework at all hours of the day and night. I would insist they call Grandma, and she would always answer the phone ready and willing to help with a "Hold on, let me grab a pencil and paper!" I would listen as she explained each problem to one of my frustrated, not so appreciative teenagers, and I would be so filled with appreciation as I reflected on myself as that frustrated teenager from long ago. I could only marvel at her patience with such non-receptive teens, but by the end of the call, there were always smiles and relief as understanding overcame frustration. Such a simple thing that she would do; to be available at 7am or 11:30pm to help her grandkids with their procrastinated reviews the night before a test. But looking back, those are some of my favorite memories; just listening to her explain, and seeing my kids' frustration turn to comprehension.
Last week, my youngest, Kate, was struggling with her Algebra II homework. There is nothing I wanted to say more than, "Call Grandma!" Instead of this, we FaceTimed her brother, Dreyson, just as her other brother, Mathen was returning from work. Dreyson and Mathen worked through problems over Kate's shoulder, and together, they were able to walk Kate through her review. I sat back with a full heart, knowing my mom would have been so proud of the boys for patiently taking the time to help. These are the things that live on.
I love you, Mom. I miss you more. 3.14 to infinity, and beyond!
Lori
I met Martha once at one of her grandchildren's birthday parties and I could tell from our brief conversation how much she loved being a grandmother and how much she adored being a mother. I know she was a special woman who touched many. I'm happy to contribute in her honor. Much love. xoxo
It's hard to share just one story or memory. I truly considered Martha to be one of my best friends. We always felt safe with each other and could discuss anything with each other. Some of my best memories are of us laying out on the back of the pontoon boat cruising Lake Tahoe. The warm sun, blue sky and fresh air. So peaceful. So many discussions. I miss her every day.
Diane Black
July 29th, 2002. Just me and my mom. Me at the wheel and she beside me. We made the 10 hour trip from Lake Tahoe, California to Logan, Utah. I had an appointment to defend my master's thesis and she wanted to come with me. For most of the drive, she slowly and carefully read my 86-page thesis aloud, as we both tried to identify any last-minute improvements. It was the first time she had read my thesis and she responded with many great comments. Being that my thesis was comprised mostly of Algebra and Calculus, we both had a lot of fun discussing it as she jotted down our changes.
The next day I presented my work in front of my professors, while my mom and a few friends also sat in the room and watched. It was so wonderful having her there to be a witness of the peak of my academic achievement. I'll never forget that presentation, nor going out afterwards to a restaurant together to celebrate my success. Seldom in my life have I ever experienced such exhaustion, joy, relief, and support. Thanks for being there, Mom!
John Ogness
My memories could fill a book. Gone too soon but God blessed her by sparing her such discomfort. A moment fails to pass without a memory. In 1966 in the back seat of Elsa's mom's Bonneville while sitting along side of her, I leaned in to kiss her for the first time. She turned her head away. I will never forget that moment or the moment weeks later laying next to her on the beach, both face down, and she put her arm around my back. I melted into the sand. We made a life together. Martha remains to this day, my better half.
Mike Ogness
