Martha Clem

Martha Clem's career as an arts critic for the Butler Eagle was far more than "adequate."

It was "inspired," friends and colleagues said Monday after hearing of her death Friday at the Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford.

Clem served as an Eagle staff member for 43 years, from May 1947 to May 1990, as arts editor, obituary editor, librarian and secretary to editors and publishers, the late John L. Wise Sr. and John L. Wise Jr.

Bob Dandoy, who grew up under Clem's watchful gaze performing in casts at the Butler Little Theatre, said as much as she liked music, theater and the arts, Clem always kept a professional distance from those she covered.

"She worked hard not to get to know many of us, as she wanted to be as above board and detached from the people so that she could keep her objectivity when it came to her reviews," Dandoy said.

That's not to say Dandoy and his fellow players were always in agreement with Clem's assessments of their efforts.

"But she never had an agenda or was malicious in what she wrote, and in the end, yeah, we probably saw her point," he added with a chuckle.

Dandoy's favorite review from Clem came when he was following the director's demand that characters in a farce be fast and loud, admonishing others to "do it like Bob."

"Her review was complimentary although she pointed out that, 'Bob Dandoy was a bit too loud.'"

Dandoy also remembers Clem characterizing his singing abilities as "excellent despite his having a cold."

The only problem was that Dandoy was perfectly healthy.

Clem made sure the community knew the treasures it had in hometown arts by getting everyone's names into a review, said Bill Lehnerd, who served with Clem in the arts community for many years.

"We were good friends for 50 years and I will miss her," Lehnerd said, adding, "You could always count on her."

For her efforts, the Butler Musical Theater Guild made Clem an honorary life member, and she was named an honorary member of the Associated Artists of Butler County.

Serving with Clem on the Butler County Symphony Association board, friend Harry Savisky said she was a hard worker.

"She was very industrious and arduous in her work, but also pleasant to work with and a very nice lady," Savisky said.

Dandoy said many times Clem, not wanting to leave anyone out of her reviews, turned to a favorite phrase to acknowledge a performance without offering undue praise.

Clem's oft-repeated line was that a performance was "adequate but inspired."

Friends say Clem's life was much more than that.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home in Butler.

A funeral service will follow at 8 p.m.