Sr. Ernesto Arturo Martinez

He attended Edison High School and Fresno State University. Professor Martinez earned a Bachelor's Degree from that institution in 1965 and his Master's Degree in Spanish in 1970. Ernesto began his illustrious teaching career in 1970. In 1978, he was awarded a second Master's Degree in Chicano Studies with an emphasis in Mexican Dance from California State University, Northridge.

Ernesto started his first Mexican folkloric dance group in 1966 at Selma High School, which became one of the first high schools in the State of California to offer Mexican "Folkloric" dance as part of the official high school curriculum - leading other valley schools to seek his help in establishing their own "Folkloric" dance groups.

Ernesto founded the internationally acclaimed "Los Danzantes de Aztlan" in 1970. He also founded Los Ninos de Aztlan, the first children's "Folkloric" dance studio in the Central Valley, which still continues today. Ernesto is one of the founding faculty members of La Raza Studies in California (now Chicano and Latin American Studies). Ernesto is also an original founder of the Chicano Alumni Chapter and one of the original founding members of the Chicano Commencement Celebration, which is one of the largest groups of its kind in the United States.

Ernesto devoted more than 40 years of his life to education and Folkloric dance. He will be greatly missed by the community and his loving family.

Ernesto was preceded by his mother. Leanor Martinez; brother, Charles Martinez; and sister, Ophelia Lopez.

Professor Martinez is survived by three sisters and one brother, Armida Lugo, Olga Sandoval, Eleanor Loya and Raymond Martinez.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian of Burial will be held at St. John's Cathedral on Thursday, June 10, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to the Chicano Alumni Association Ernesto Martinez Memorial Scholarship Fund, 5244 N. Jackson - M/S KC 45 Fresno, Ca., 93740