Darrell Martinie

American astrologer also known as The Cosmic Muffin on the astrological radio show he hosted for more than 30 years. The oldest of five children, he attended the University of Illinois, where he studied political science and graduated with a degree in psychology. He entered a Benedictine monastery in the early 1970s, intending to become a monk, but left after several months. In the mid-1970s he began to study astrology. At about the same time, he met Ed Boesel, an engineer who would become his life partner. On May 17, 2004, the two men were the first same sex couple to obtain a marriage license in their town of Saugus; they married on May 28, 2004 in Boston. Legend has it that In 1973 Martinie was listening to Boston radio station WBCN when he heard radio host Charles Laquidara announce that the moon was in Cancer and Leo. Martinie reportedly called to correct Laquidara and Laquidara put Martinie on the air. A star was born out of his witty astrological pronouncement on that day. For over 30 years, Martinie would host his own radio and TV segments in which he provided astrological weather reports. His shows became syndicated and heard nationwide. Laquidara gave him the on-air name "Cosmic Muffin," from the National Lampoon parody song that includes the lines: Therefore, make peace with your god,whatever you conceive him to be: hairy thunderer or cosmic muffin. Darrell Martinie ended each of his Boston radio broadcasts with : "It is a wise person who rules the stars, a fool who is ruled by them. Over and out." In 1993, then-governor of Massachusetts, William Weld, a Cosmic Muffin fan, appointed Martinie state's official astrologer. On his 60th birthday, 2003, Martinie received bad news--a diagnosis of cancer. He died three years later from the disease, on July 26, 2006 in Saugus, MA.