Mario Martinez

Longtime New Mexico educator, coach and athletic director Mario Edward Martinez of Belen, NM died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012 at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque following a battle with cancer. Martinez, 58, was surrounded by his family when he peacefully passed away after a rich and full life dedicated to the young men and women of New Mexico. Public visitation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, in Belen, NM. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Belen Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 at 9 a.m. with Father Steve Schultz officiating. He will be buried at the Fort Sumner Cemetery at 3 p.m. Mario Martinez was born Aug. 30, 1954 in Las Vegas, NM to the home of Leopoldo and Mary Martinez. He was raised in Ocate, NM for the first six years of his life. The family then moved to Springer, NM and he attended Springer Schools, graduating with honors in 1972. He was an outstanding and determined student and athlete and competed in three sports for the Red Devils. Mario attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in special education in 1976. He became a teacher and coach, working in Moriarty, Pojoaque, Tucumcari, Carlsbad, Springer and Fort Sumner. Mario led the Springer Red Devils to state championships in basketball and track and led the Fort Sumner Foxes to five state championships in football and six state championships in track. He is one of only two coaches in New Mexico history to have coached teams to state championships in three different sports. He was chosen as one of the head coaches for the North-South All-Star Basketball Game in 1989 and the A/AA All-Star Football Game in 1995. He also served on the New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors, representing small schools in the southeastern quadrant of New Mexico. Martinez left Fort Sumner after winning the state track championship in 2004, the school’s third straight. He became Associate Director of the New Mexico Activities Association, serving six years until his retirement. With the NMAA, Martinez was a fierce advocate for New Mexico’s small schools and had an unequaled understanding of the challenges they face. Martinez was elected to the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008 and is scheduled to be inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June, 2013. He was member of the Tierra Del Sol Men’s Golf Association, serving in many leadership capacities, and was a regular member of the Belen "Gaggles" golf club. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Martinez always attributed his success to working with many great people who shared his same passion and dedication in working with kids, and to the many dedicated young athletes he said he was fortunate to coach over the years. He will be remembered for his ability to analyze, organize and lead. His motto was "Always live life to the fullest." Mario was preceded in death by his father, Leopoldo in 1964; his mother, Mary, in 2003; his first wife, Patricia (Gutierrez) Martinez, in 1994; a sister, Dynna Martinez in 1995; and his in-laws, Arabella Borrego in 2006 and Arturo Borrego in 2011. He is survived by his wife, MaryAnn Martinez of the home; a daughter Candida Gonzales, her husband D.J. and their daughter Kyrah, of Artesia, NM; a son, Montana Martinez of Springer, NM; a step-daughter, Kimberly Branch-Ceniceros, her husband Ernesto and their children, Santiago Montoya and Marisa Branch, all of Belen; a step-son, Kenneth Branch, his wife Shenoa and their son Armando Branch, also of Belen. Also surviving are a sister, Agnes Martinez of Pueblo, CO; a brother, Patrick Martinez and his companion Theresa LeDoux of Springer, NM; a niece, Tonya Vargas and her husband Leroy of Albuquerque; and a nephew, Pat Martinez and his wife Julie, of Springer; and Patricia’s parents, Con and Lucille Gutierrez, also of Springer; as well as many more treasured nieces and nephews. Pall bearers are Scot Stinnett, Benny Segura, Mike Ortiz, Gary Tripp, Stanford Salazar and Lecil Richards. Honorary pall bearers are D.J. Gonzales, Delbert Jaramillo, George Chavez, Johnny Apodaca and all his former players. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mexico Activities Association Scholarship Fund, in memory of Mario Martinez, 6600 Palomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575)355-2311.