Asturian-American Migration Forum

We were sorry to learn that Bob's father, Jack "El León" Martínez has died. I'll copy below the article appearing in this link:
http://www.funeralquestions.com/obits/l ... g_id=89109

(Thanks to Ron for finding the article.)

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Estábamos apesadumbrados de aprender que el padre de Bob, Jack "EL León" Martínez ha muerto. Copiaré debajo el artículo que aparece en este eslabón:
http://www.funeralquestions.com/obits/l ... g_id=89109

(Gracias a Ron por encontrar el artículo.)

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Isaac Jack Martinez
Born: May 14, 1917
Died: August 19, 2007



Isaac "Jack" "El León" Martinez, 90, of 73rd Street, Niagara Falls, NY, died
Sunday, August 19, 2007 at his home after a brief illness.

Mr. Martinez was born May 14, 1917 in Spelter, West Virginia, the son of
Victor and Josefa (Fernández) Martínez, he lived here for many years.

He served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant during W.W.II. He was employed as a
firefighter for the City of Niagara Falls for 34 years prior to retiring in
1979.

He enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren,
and traveling.

He was the husband of the late Cecelia Martinez who died in 2006. He is
survived by two sons, Robert M. (Evelyn) Martinez of New Haven, CT and
Rockport, MA and Richard (Susan) Martinez of Niagara Falls, a
daughter-in-law, Diane Martinez of Niagara Falls, his late son James B.
Martinez's later in life partner, Richard Brown, a brother, Manuel Martinez
of Lakeland, Florida, 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8p.m. Wednesday in the LANE
FUNERAL HOME, INC., 8622 Buffalo Avenue where funeral services will be held
Thursday at 10:30a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11a.m. in
St. John de LaSalle R.C. Church, 8469 Buffalo Avenue. Interment will be in
Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Town of Lewiston. Memorial donations may be made to
the N.F. Fireman's Toy Fund or to Niagara Hospice, 4675 Sunset Drive,
Lockport, NY 14094.

I was very sorry to hear of Jack's death, I will miss our long conversations about people we both knew. I could set down with Jack and talk about my family. He knew who I was talking about; he knew them all. The last time that I talked to Jack was at his birthday party. I did enjoy the talk we had. We talked about all the old timers that lived in Spelter. As I have said before, he knew them all. I've said this before, when I talked to Jack, it was like going home again. I still grin when I think of some of the stories that he told me. He was a good friend and will be missed. Till we meet again, Jack.

Your Friend
Ron

Thank you, Art. I have conveyed my condolences to Bob and his family and wish to add that, although I never met Jack Martínez "El León" in person, this son of Asturian immigrants from San Martín de Laspra, who managed to instill in his children the classical values of the Asturian character which can be summarized as follows: dedication to his family, hard work with a sense of responsibility beyond his duty, respect for others and honesty. Jack was a firefighter in Niagara Falls and rappelled, even in his sixties, many times down the falls to rescue people or retrieve the bodies of those drowned.
May he rest in peace.

Gracias Art. He dado el pésame a Bob y su familia y quisiera añadir que, aunque no conocí personalmente a Jack Martínez "El León", ese hijo de emigrantes asturianos de San Martín de Laspra que transmitió a sus hijos los valores clásicos del carácter asturiano: dedicación a la familia, ser trabajador y responsable más allá del deber. respetuoso con los demás y honrado. Jack Martínez fue bombero en Niagara Falls (las cataratas del Niágara) y como tal, y hasta una avanzada edad, bajó muchas veces haciendo rapel por las cataratas para rescatar a accidentados o recuperar los cadáveres de los ahogados.
Que descanse en paz.