Since the 1960's Dr. Martello has contributed much to civil and gay rights, and his 'colorful and outspoken' manner added to his reputation for being a formidable opponent in these matters.

Born in 1931 in Massachusetts and descending from Sicilian Witches (known as streghe) of which he knew nothing about, Leo was raised catholic, spending much of his early years in a catholic boarding school. Having psychic experiences at an early age, Leo began studying palmistry and Tarot with a Gypsy and by age 16 was making radio appearances and giving handwriting analysis.

At 18 Leo moved to NYC where he attended several colleges focusing on psychology. It was during this time that he learned of his ancestral heritage from cousins who claimed to have been watching him for several years as a potential candidate for the Old Religion. He was told of his grandmother, who was renown in Sicily for her magical skill, and on September 26, 1951 Leo was initiated into his cousins' secret Sicilian coven.

It wasn’t until 1969, shortly before the publication of his first book on witchcraft, Weird Ways of Witchcraft, that Leo decided to go public as a Witch in order to promote the truth about Withcraft. During this time he was contacted and initiated into Gardenarian, Alexandrian and Traditionalist traditions.

Among his many accomplishments, Leo was the first public Witch to champion the establishment of legally incorporated, tax-exempt Wiccan churches as well as paid legal holidays for Witches. He founded the Witches Liberation Movement and the Witches International Craft Association (WICA) to further his work in civil liberties. Leo later formed the Witches Anti-Defamation League (later renamed the Witches Anti-Discrimination Lobby), which by 1980 had chapters being established in every state of the United States dedicated to ensuring Witches’ religious rights.

One of his most well known achievements in New York occurred in 1970 when the city parks department refused to issue Leo a permit for a Samhain “Witch-in” he had organized in Central Park. After securing the aid of the NY Civil Liberties Union and threatening to file a law suit for discrimination against a minority religion, the city parks department relented and the Witch-In, attended by around 1000 people, was filmed into a documentary.

Dr. Martello worked as a writer, graphologist and lecturer, making many public appearances to educate others about the Craft and to speak at major Pagan Festivals and Gatherings. He also officiated several ceremonies at the NYC Witches Ball. He authored several articles and books, including Witchcraft: The Old Religion; How to Prevent Psychic Blackmail; Your Pen Personality; The Hidden World of Hypnotism; and Witches’ Liberation and Practical Guide to Witch Covens.

Sadly, Dr. Martello died near the end of the end of June 2000. Following Leo’s wishes, Rev. HPS Lori Bruno of Medford, MA. an elder of Leo’s tradition and administrator of his estate, had his remains cremated. Lori also officiated a very moving memorial service in NY in October 2000 at the Gay and Lesbian Center where many people shared their experiences with Leo throughout the years. It was a touching service, and I will always remember the wisdom of Leo’s that Lori shared with us: “The strong find a way, the weak find an excuse.” Dr. Leo Louis Martello truly lived by these words, and because of his convictions, secured a great amount of the freedom we now take for granted.