Robert E. Martinez

It is our wish that we will celebrate the life of a courageous man, Robert Martinez. Many of us witnessed his physical decline but he kept his sense of humor, appetite and desire to protect his family. We realize that Robert requested privacy and did not want visitors towards the end. Please know that he did this out of love and to preserve and protect the memories you had of him. We ask you carry memories of him in your heart and remember him for his courage. He passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson’s, he was adored by all who met him, including his care givers who have been grieving over their " Papa." His family and sisters remember him as “Boy” as he was the only son of Robert and Romelia Martinez and be will reunited with them and his sister Yolie in Heaven.

Wife Phyllis (nicknamed Phyll and Squirrel) is carrying on in positivity and in her faith, that Robert is fully restored, Robert has taken care of her in his death and in 1998 they picked out the plot where Robert will be buried, he will be laid to rest under a tree and near a statue of a couple embracing. His love of his wife was symbolized by his service to her and every beck n call, foot rub, late night run for a can of Planter's peanuts and ability to calm her Italian temperament. Nathan and Erin also noted that despite Robert's amazing sense of humor and ability to pick on people... Phyllis, his wife was always off limits, it is easy to be off limits when you “Married -up” as Robert would proudly proclaim.

Daughter Erin is writing this and just asks that you do not make her cry... like don't even try to hug her, because her broken heart needs some tough love instead. She is used to father's tough love method and him rolling his eyes and saying “you’re not as smart as you think" or calling her one his many nick names for her like " big butt or big foot."

Also, do not remind her (or us) of the time when seeing his physical decline made you feel sad, there are already too many of those memories etched on our hearts. Remind us of the fun memories of this amazing man. Your sadness about his physical decline should be manifested in a commitment for you to take care of your own body, " never take your body for granted" as Robert would say.

Son Nathan, inherited Robert's laugh and his sense of humor, it is a loud one. Make Nathan laugh. Nathan is like his father in his commitment and adoration of his wife Jenell, he learned how to be a loving husband from his dad.

If you miss Robert Martinez's kindness and quiet strength, reach out to Chris Radeski, Erin's husband and Robert's red headed son. Chris is a blessing of a man and served his father in law to the ends of the earth, to the point where Robert's request would be " send Chris" and Chris would show up with bags of food.

Finally, we know that our Mister Postman Robert will deliver us comfort during this time, he was mail carrier on Earth and will be delivering us his love and comfort from Heaven to his family.

With Love,

Martinez Family