Robert Donald Martinez

Robert Donald Martinez was born in Pueblo, Colorado on January 23, 1936 to Lazaro and Emily “Minnie” Martinez. Growing up in Colorado, his greatest passion was fishing in the beautiful rivers and lakes with his family. Bob met MaryEllen in Pueblo, and after much effort on his part, they became high school sweethearts. Both Bob's and MaryEllen’s fathers worked in the CF&I steel mill. Bob took a summer job there but quickly realized it wasn't for him, so he joined the Army and trained as a diesel mechanic. He worked on big rigs in Greenland during his service and became very addicted to coffee. On December 29, 1957, right after boot camp and before deployment, Bob and MaryEllen married. They spent time in Washington, D.C. between deployments, then returned to Colorado and settled in the Denver area, where they raised three children.

Once settled, Bob became a sheet metal apprentice and later an instructor for the local apprenticeship program. His success led him to the National Training Fund (the sheet metal workers’ training organization), where he traveled nationwide supporting apprenticeship programs and facilitating conferences and competitions. At the end of his career, he and MaryEllen returned to Washington, D.C., where he became Chief Administrator of what was renamed the International Training Institute —an impressive achievement for someone with his background. He was proud of his accomplishments and of his family and their achievements. Yet nothing brought him more joy than teaching his siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends to fish. What he looked forward to most at the end was fishing peacefully in Heaven.

Bob is survived by his wife, MaryEllen; his children Donald Robert (Tracee) Martinez, Monica Martinez (Lynne Teisman), and Annette (David) Martinez Northrop; his five grandchildren and their spouses Alysa Hanson (Johnathan), Danielle Ford (Ryan), Zachary Martinez, Benjamin (Gabby) Northrop, and Michael (Sydney) Northrop; his six great-grandchildren; and his siblings Betty (David) Romero and Tom (Cathy) Martinez.