Martin David Brahinsky, 60, passed away October 31, 2011, at his home in Dallas.

Marty was born March 14, 1951, the son of Henry and Muriel (Silberman) Brahinsky. He attended Dallas public schools. As a youth, Marty was a talented violinist. He was co-concertmaster of his high school orchestra and twice earned positions in the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra. He also displayed an interest in and skill with gadgets of all kinds, especially electronic equipment. Marty graduated Bryan Adams High School in 1969.

Marty attended Texas Tech University, the University of Texas in Austin, and the University of Iowa, where he majored in violin performance under the tutelage of Virginia Kellogg and Leopold LaFosse. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in violin from Iowa in 1973.

From 1974 to 1978, Marty was a free-lance violinist in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he regularly played shows with big-name entertainers in the theaters and hotels on the Strip. He returned to Dallas in 1978. He continued as a free-lance violinist, playing many shows at the Fairmont Hotel, and also did some work as a recording-studio technician. Marty also had a small studio of private violin students.

In the late 1970s, Marty began working in electronics retail and management, the field in which he would make his long-term career. He was in sales and management for numerous Dallas-area companies, including Burstein-Applebee, Texas Hi-Fi, Stereo South, Hillcrest High Fidelity, New Age Marketing, Bang & Olufsen, Home Entertainment, Magnolia Audio Video, and Best Buy.

Marty married Heidi Fietzner, a banking professional, in Dallas in 1981, and the couple raised two beautiful daughters, Simone and Rachel. Heidi passed away in August of this year.

Marty was predeceased by his father, Henry, and by his wife, Heidi. He is survived by his mother, Muriel Brahinsky of San Antonio, his daughters Simone Brahinsky of New York City and Rachel Evans (Jadon) of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and two brothers, Gerald (Phyllis) of Irving and Eric (April) of San Antonio.

Funeral arrangements are pending.