A Final Set for the "Fedora Bandit"

On March 21, 2026, the music got a little quieter and the world a little less sharp-dressed as Dane Allen Martin took his final bow. At 11:55 PM, surrounded by love at the Hospice House in Poland, Ohio, Dane transitioned from this life to the great jazz lounge in the sky.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, on July 31, 1959, to Lawrence Martin and the late Ruth Marcella (Saulters) Martin-Paris, Dane was a man who lived his life with a distinct rhythm. Though he grew up in Steubenville, he carried the soul of a city that never slept. In those early years, he was often found "running around" with his close friend Rob Parissi. While Rob went on to tell the world to "Play That Funky Music" with Wild Cherry, Dane was busy perfecting his own signature groove.

Dane was a true renaissance man with a resume as eclectic as a vinyl collection. He brought his sharp eye to Nimslo Photography, his voice to the airwaves as a DJ for WVKO 1580 AM alongside KC Jones, and his work ethic to both the Columbus Dispatch and Kroger, where he served as an assistant manager. He even took his talents to OSU for cosmetology and barber school, proving he always knew how to keep things looking—and feeling—cool.

But it was his style that truly defined him. Known affectionately as the "Fedora Bandit," Dane was never fully dressed without his signature brim. He moved through life with the smooth syncopation of a jazz legend, fueled by his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers and OSU football. To know Dane was to know a man of deep soul, effortless charisma, and a heart that beat in 4/4 time.

Dane’s legacy of cool is carried forward by his father, Lawrence Martin of Columbus; his son, Dane A. Martin II; and his two grandchildren, Ren and Aimee, who were the brightest notes in his song. He is also survived by his brother Garth Hopkins, and half-siblings: Regina Nay and Gary Porter, and his very special, dear friend, Cynthia Edie. Dane now joins those who preceded him in death: his beloved mother, Ruth, and his siblings Teri Nay, Jackie Carpenter, and Jayme Wyatt.

The Fedora Bandit has left the building, but the melody of his life will play on in the hearts of everyone who knew him. Next time you hear a soulful saxophone solo or see a perfectly tilted hat, think of Dane.