Lorenzo Delfin Martinez

Lorenzo was born on September 27, 1943, in Sagua la Grande, Las Villas, Cuba, the only child of Lorenzo Candelario Martinez and Maria Ernestina Chaviano Martinez. At 18, he left Cuba and came to the United States, where he would build a life characterized by family, friendship, hard work, and an enduring curiosity about the world.

Not long after arriving in the United States, Lorenzo met Belinda Lambert. They married on May 30, 1965, beginning a marriage that would span more than 61 years. Together they raised two children and built a family that remained at the center of Lorenzo’s life.

Lorenzo served for two years in the United States Army, stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After his military service, he and Belinda returned to Florida, and in 1971 he graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in electrical engineering. He began his career with W.R. Grace & Co., later worked as a consulting engineer for various firms, and ultimately spent nearly 20 years with the City of Lakeland before retiring.

Although an only child, Lorenzo was surrounded by a large extended family and maintained close relationships with his many cousins throughout his life. Family mattered deeply to him. He made a deliberate effort to bring people together, maintain relationships, and ensure that family ties endured across generations.

That same genuine interest in people extended to his friendships. Lorenzo was naturally friendly and welcoming, with a warmth that was sincere and immediately felt. He enjoyed people, valued his friendships, and had an unmistakable smile that reflected the genuine pleasure he took in connecting with those around him.

Lorenzo approached life with energy, curiosity, and a lasting sense of adventure. An avid runner, cyclist, and hiker, he completed the Walt Disney World Marathon twice, participated in Tampa’s Gasparilla Distance Classic and a 50-mile trail relay, and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He combined his love of cycling and travel on destination biking trips to the Netherlands and Nova Scotia.

That adventurous spirit stayed with him throughout his life. In his seventies, Lorenzo was still exploring, traveling to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands and even joining friends in Ecuador in the adventure of opening a restaurant, Pollo Caribeño. Whether the next experience involved running shoes, a bicycle, a hiking trail, a passport, or simply trying something he’d never done before, Lorenzo remained curious about the world and eager to experience it.

Above all, Lorenzo’s life centered on the people he loved. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, relative, and friend, and he leaves behind a family made closer by the love and connection he fostered.

Lorenzo is survived by his wife of 61 years, Belinda Lambert Martinez; his son, Lorenzo Martinez; his daughter, Melissa Martinez Godley, and her husband, William Bulfer; his grandchildren, Lorenzo Delfin Martinez, Diego Anibal Martinez, and Mariana Belen Martinez; Grayson Arthur Godley, Gavin Slade Godley, and Graham Hudson Godley; and his step-grandchildren, Delaney, Daniel, and Mackenzie Bulfer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lorenzo Candelario Martinez and Maria Ernestina Chaviano Martinez.

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA of West Central Florida or the Florida Bicycle Association, reflecting his commitment to an active life and his love of cycling.

YMCA of West Central Florida:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lfy/event/inlovingmemoryoflorenzomartinez/

Florida Bicycle Association:

https://floridabicycle.org/donate/

Visitation will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 E LAKE AVE, TAMPA, FL 33610, US, on August 29, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

A Service will be held at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 E LAKE AVE, TAMPA, FL 33610, US, on August 29, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.