- Date Of Birth: August 21, 1939
- Date Of Death: December 2, 2016
- State: Utah
Dad passed away on Friday morning in Ogden, Utah. In his final days, family and friends gathered in support as his health declined. Strong-willed to the end, few things slowed him down.
A descendent of the first Spanish settlers in 1598, Dad was born in New Mexico on 21 August 1939. He was born into a blended family of 18 children to Jose Altagracia Martinez and Florinda Gurule. He often entertained us with stories about his childhood growing up along the river in Del Norte, Colorado. He moved to Ogden during the 1950s where he worked hard to provide for his family. He met and married Rena Singer in 1968, and together they raised two daughters, Ursula Martinez Olivo, and Sofia Elena Martinez.
He worked for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind until his retirement several years ago. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow from childhood to adolescence and into adulthood: Antonio Martinez, Victoria Martinez, Olivia Gilmore, and “Nino” Lozano. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren, Florinda, Esperanza, and Isabelle. He is survived by two sisters, Edwina Martinez of Ogden, UT and Nora Pickering of Portland, OR.
Dad loved talking to people. His primary language was Spanish, but he was a fluent English speaker, and picked up different languages quickly including American Sign Language. Grocery shopping with dad, one could never just walk up and down the aisles without him finding someone he knew just around the corner that he had to stop and talk to. Even on vacation, 800 miles away, in a crowded line at Disneyland, dad knew someone there and just had to stop and have a conversation. That is one thing we will all miss about him. We will miss his stories about another time and place in CaAon.
Dad, you are home now where your coffee will always be hot, and the cup will always be full. We love you, and we know that we will see you again soon. Te amo.
