Augustine G. Martinez Jr. "Marty"

Augustine G. Martinez, Jr., known fondly as “Marty,” Tincinto, and Buelo, was born 99 years ago on March 30th, 1921 and was called to heaven on June 6th, 2020. Marty was surrounded by loving family and the loving care that he received from his Aston Gardens (at Tampa Bay) family and his LifePath Hospice caregivers (Garnet Team, Continuous Care Team, and Clergy).

Marty is survived by his sister Hortensia LaRosa, his children Augie Martinez (Maril), Rick Martinez (Patricia), and Judy Martinez Caprara (Clem), his grandchildren Jennifer Perillo (Rich), Jenna Caprara, and Ciara Caprara (Avi Silber), and great grandchildren Jolie and Avery Perillo. Marty is predeceased by his wife Mary F. Martinez, his mother Delores L. Martinez, his father Augustine G. Martinez, Sr., his granddaughter Jessica Martinez, and his brothers Mario Amador, Reynaldo, Luciano, and Richard Martinez.

Marty couldn’t have been more proud of his family and loved to share stories of growing up in Ybor City where he worked hard and played hard. In his spare time, you could often find him at Cuscaden Park playing baseball or whatever game/sport that was being played at the moment. At an early age, he worked to help support his family. His early jobs included delivering ice blocks for refrigeration, loaves of Cuban bread for Ferlita Bakery, and milk for Florida Dairy. His art lessons at El Circulo Cubano revealed a special hidden talent. Marty served his country as a signalman for the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. While he was stationed in the Panama Canal, he made lifetime friends with a family who took him in as one of their own. Upon returning to the Tampa Bay area, Marty found work at Sears, starting in the warehouse and rising to be one of the highest performing major appliance salesman in the area before he retired over 37 years later. Shortly after his return from service to the Tampa Bay area, Marty fell in love at first sight with his wife of 62 years at a reweaving shop which is currently inhabited by Misen Place. Ever a romantic, he wrote her letters and took her dancing at the Ybor City social clubs. They were married six months later and settled into Tampa Heights. They eventually moved to Riverside Heights, using their Tampa Heights house to support family members who were immigrating to the United States. Not only did Marty raise three children, but he was very involved in the lives of his many nieces and nephews, as well. He loved traveling around the United States and to other countries to spend time with family and friends. Marty also enjoyed tracking hurricanes, working in his yard, swimming in the Gulf, playing dominoes, watching classic movies, and listening to Cuban music and big band music. He hosted sleepovers for his granddaughters and loved teaching them to play dominoes. Marty loved making his great-granddaughters smile. There are no words to describe how much Buelo will be missed. The family would like to extend their immeasurable gratitude to his caretakers at Aston Gardens Assisted Living, his team from LifePath Hospice, and his fellow domino players at Vicente & Tampa Cigar Company. A celebration of life will happen at a later date.