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Martin Basinait

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 December 2023 at 5:07 pm

ALBION – Martin Craig Basinait, 74, passed away after a long and exhausting battle with Parkinson’s Disease on December 28, 2023. He was born on April 5, 1949 to the late Louis Charles and Mary (Bokman) Basinait.

Marty lived in Albion his whole life, graduating from Albion High School and then attending Cornell University. He returned to marry his high school sweetheart and start a family just down the road from his parent’s farm. He had many interests and there was nothing he couldn’t build, fix, or drive.

He opened Basinait’s Gulf in 1973 and ran it fulltime until he took a director’s position at Western Regional Off Track Betting. He was named Vice President in 1981 and ten years later became President and CEO. He spent years laying the groundwork for the hugely successful Batavia Downs we know today. He retired in 2011 after more than three decades with WROTB, and unfortunately was unable to pursue his passions of fly-fishing and fast cars because of health issues.

Marty was predeceased by his parents, his older brother, Michael, and his first love, his wife Carol.

Marty is survived by his four children, Lisa (Jon) Pritchard, Stacey (Nathan Olewnick) Basinait, Samuel (Tenzing Youdon) Basinait, and Alissa (Matthew Cochrane) Basinait; his brothers Charles (Andrea) Basinait, Joseph (Cindy) Basinait, Laurence (Donna) Basinait; and his sister-in-law, Sarah Basinait. He will also be deeply missed by his nieces, nephew, his great-niece and nephew, and his only grandchild, Carol Grace Pritchard.

There will be calling hours at Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday January 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a service at 2 p.m. There will be a private burial at St. Joseph‘s Cemetery where he will be laid to rest next to his wife, Carol.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Orchard Manor Rehabilitation would be greatly appreciated. The kindness and love of his caregivers on Unit 3 was a true blessing in his last days. To share a special memory of Marty, please visit: www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.