Martha Meng
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2015 New Haven Jazz Festival – Celebrating Women In Jazz Dedicated to the memory of Martha Meng Sponsored by Murtha Cullina LLP
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The 2015 New Haven Jazz Festival is being dedicated to the memory of the late Martha Meng. Martha was a board member of Jazz Haven from 2009 until her untimely passing in 2012. Martha spent her entire professional career with the law firm of Murtha Cullina LLP, where she specialized in healthcare law. Murtha Cullina is one of the sponsors of the 2015 Jazz Festival.
As founder and former Jazz Haven President Doug Morrill put it, “Martha was an amazing woman who brought her passion for building community and love of jazz to Jazz Haven. Martha helped bring order to Jazz Haven making it a much better organization.”
“She was not just a member of our board, but also a friend, public advocate, and budding jazz pianist,” said current Jazz Haven President Craig O’Connell. “Our choice to feature two jazz pianists at the summer festival celebrating ‘Women In Jazz’ is an important way to remember Martha. She just loved jazz and dedicated her spare time to playing piano and helping to build our organization into what it has become today,” continued O’Connell.
Martha Everett Meng was born in Maine, but was reared in Westhampton, MA. She was a precocious child who read scripture at church services at the age of four. Martha skipped grades in the public schools she attended and graduated from high school at 16. She attended Smith College where she received her BA, magna cum laude, in 1968. Martha spent most of her life in Connecticut. She studied French women’s literature at the Yale Graduate School. In addition to her academic interests, Martha was a talented musician from childhood, and was a first-rate organist who played at church services in Greater New Haven. She was a long-time supporter of the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, where she also began jazz piano instruction.
Martha was recognized by the Connecticut Law Tribune as one of its Women in the Law High Achievers. She was also listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the area of healthcare law. She also served on the American Health Care Association legal committee.
In addition to her professional achievements, Martha was active in nonprofit activities in New Haven, including Jazz Haven. She was also an avid gardener and Bridge player.
