Elmer P. Martin, president and co-founder of the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in East Baltimore, died last week while traveling in Egypt.
Councilwoman Helen L. Holton, a Northwest Baltimore Democrat and a member of the museum's board of trustees, confirmed last night that Martin, 54, died Thursday while traveling with his wife, Joanne M. Martin, the museum's executive director. Holton said she did not know the cause of death.
"It is a great loss to this community," Holton said.
Holton, who announced Martin's death at last night's City Council meeting, said Martin is "someone who will truly be missed for his contributions to the African-American community."
Martin founded the storefront museum in the 1600 block of E. North Ave. with his wife in 1983. They started out with four wax figures and the money they had saved for a down payment on a house.
The museum now has more than 150 life-sized wax figures of individuals such as civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and singer Billie Holliday.
Holton said Martin's death occurs as the museum is planning a major expansion.
"The museum will continue, but Elmer was so much of what made that museum," she said.
