Arthur
Arthur Martinez
d. February 17, 2017
Arthur V. Martinez of Sombrillo, age 68, passed away quietly at home on Friday, February 17, 2017. Arthur was born in Chula Vista, California to Luis G. and Ramona Martinez, their 11th and last child. He grew up in Santa Fe, NM and was a 1966 graduate of St. Michael’s high school. Art married Isabel Valdez in 1968, and they had three children. Art loved dearly and without boundary his daughter, Michele Martinez and partner Rick Martinez, his son, Art Martinez, Jr. and wife Ramona Martinez, and daughter, Veronica Albin and husband Douglas Albin. Art was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jesse Martinez, and former mother-in-law, Angela Valdez, whom he loved. He is survived by his wife and love, Jessica Arias, with whom he shared the last 13 years of his life. He lives on through his grandchildren, Kierston Jerome Chavez, Ashleigh Segovia, Angelo Martinez-Chavez, Jesse Duran, Juliana Martinez, Alexis Martinez, Amelia Albin, and great granddaughter Acelynn Chavez-Gasca. Art’s second family through Jessica and to whom he was also a wonderful father, father in-law, son-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather, he leaves daughter, Georgia and husband Damon James, son, Santiago Sandoval and partner Amilya Ellis, daughter, Lisa and husband Shane Bess, mother-in-law Dora Nelson and father-and mother-in-law Presciliano and JoAnn Sandoval, granddaughters Jessica and husband Marvin Romero and their children Gabriela, Aaliyah, Daniel and Isaiah, Taylor and husband Nick Franklin and their children Brooke and Logan, Miquela Bess, and grandsons Wade and Zane James, Tim Bess, and Aaron and Greyson Sandoval. He was much loved and cherished as the baby brother to Genara and Homer Cunningham, Jose Martinez, Ireno and Orlinda Martinez, Sixto and Barbara (d.) Martinez, Mary and Dave Dillon, Louis and Helen Martinez, Mary Jane and Oliver CdeBaca, Fermie and Rudy Lujan, and Diego and Christine Martinez. He will be greatly missed by his brothers and sisters-in-law Joyce Sandoval, brother-in-law Jeff Sandoval, brothers and sisters-in law Peter and Cindy Sandoval, Anthony and Mary Sandoval, and Louie and Nancy Sandoval. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, and God-children who loved their Uncle Art.
In Art’s early adulthood, he held many jobs; he was a backhoe operator, a dairy farm worker, and apprenticed with his brother, Joe, in the cabinet business. It was this that called to him, and being an entrepreneur at heart, he started his first business, AVM Cabinets, in 1974; his beautiful cabinetry work can still be found throughout Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. When a tragic fire consumed their home in Santa Fe, they moved to La Puebla, where they raised their family and lived the farm life, while Art continued his cabinet business. Art’s children have countless stories of life with cows, horses, sheep, ducks, geese, rabbits, and the occasional skunk. Art retired from the cabinet business in 1994, but ever the rolling stone, his entrepreneurial spirit continued into the next several years in the Shortstop Sports Bar, The Flicks Video, Cottonwood RV Park, and his construction endeavor whereby he built the Vistas Hermosas subdivision in Espanola. Through all of these ventures, one of Art’s true passions was entertaining and cooking, and in 1996, the family opened Martini’z Restaurant & Lounge, where his heart and his spirit touched the lives of so many people. He met so many friends at Martini’z that are still friends – and really, family – to this day.
In his retirement, Art enjoyed time with friends and family, and loved cooking, traveling with Jessica, and golfing with the boys. He was incredibly proud of this children’s accomplishments in life, and seeing his grandchildren become successful young adults. He took care of his granddaughter and little partner Amelia in the last years of his life, imparting to her so much of his personality and humor. Art always maintained the most positive attitude and consistently set and met goals despite his significant trials with his health. He never let it dictate his life.
Art will forever be remembered for his incredible ability to bring people together. He never knew a stranger, striking up conversation and making a friend everywhere he went. People who have had the privilege of crossing paths with him found in him a friend, mentor, and a warm welcome in his and Jessica’s home. Lucas and Christina Gauthier and Casey and Amanda Salazar know this well; they quickly became a part of the family he loved so much. His love, joy and inspiration to live life to its fullest will be a warm memory to all. It is his spirit of generosity and bringing happiness to others that Art leaves behind as his legacy.
Public visitation will begin on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española. Burial will be held at a later date. The family of Arthur V. Martinez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com
In Art’s early adulthood, he held many jobs; he was a backhoe operator, a dairy farm worker, and apprenticed with his brother, Joe, in the cabinet business. It was this that called to him, and being an entrepreneur at heart, he started his first business, AVM Cabinets, in 1974; his beautiful cabinetry work can still be found throughout Santa Fe and northern New Mexico. When a tragic fire consumed their home in Santa Fe, they moved to La Puebla, where they raised their family and lived the farm life, while Art continued his cabinet business. Art’s children have countless stories of life with cows, horses, sheep, ducks, geese, rabbits, and the occasional skunk. Art retired from the cabinet business in 1994, but ever the rolling stone, his entrepreneurial spirit continued into the next several years in the Shortstop Sports Bar, The Flicks Video, Cottonwood RV Park, and his construction endeavor whereby he built the Vistas Hermosas subdivision in Espanola. Through all of these ventures, one of Art’s true passions was entertaining and cooking, and in 1996, the family opened Martini’z Restaurant & Lounge, where his heart and his spirit touched the lives of so many people. He met so many friends at Martini’z that are still friends – and really, family – to this day.
In his retirement, Art enjoyed time with friends and family, and loved cooking, traveling with Jessica, and golfing with the boys. He was incredibly proud of this children’s accomplishments in life, and seeing his grandchildren become successful young adults. He took care of his granddaughter and little partner Amelia in the last years of his life, imparting to her so much of his personality and humor. Art always maintained the most positive attitude and consistently set and met goals despite his significant trials with his health. He never let it dictate his life.
Art will forever be remembered for his incredible ability to bring people together. He never knew a stranger, striking up conversation and making a friend everywhere he went. People who have had the privilege of crossing paths with him found in him a friend, mentor, and a warm welcome in his and Jessica’s home. Lucas and Christina Gauthier and Casey and Amanda Salazar know this well; they quickly became a part of the family he loved so much. His love, joy and inspiration to live life to its fullest will be a warm memory to all. It is his spirit of generosity and bringing happiness to others that Art leaves behind as his legacy.
Public visitation will begin on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española. Burial will be held at a later date. The family of Arthur V. Martinez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com
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