Manuel Martinez

Manuel "Manny" Martinez, 88, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, in Watsonville, CA on March 23, 2024. Manny was born on September 21, 1935, in Santa Barbara, CA to Dolores Campos. He was the younger brother to his sister, Alice. Manny spent his time in Santa Barbara running around with friends, playing sports, jumping off the Pier, and occasionally sneaking into the Santa Barbara Dodgers baseball stadium, from where he lived down the road.

When Manny was 11, his family moved to Moss Landing, CA where he attended Moss Landing Middle School, a one-room school building, where he would be elected as "Class President." Eventually, Manny would attend Watsonville High School, where he would build a fond reputation for having one of the cooler cars on campus, a beautiful black 1954 Ford Fairlane, that he maintained with about 10 coats of lacquer finish.

It was during his time in High School that Manny would meet the love of his life, Gloria, and the two would marry in 1956 and have 5 children thereafter. The family would spend quality time having backyard barbecues with family and friends, spending countless summers camping in Yosemite, playing sports, and going on many adventure-filled fishing trips.

Manny enjoyed a 31-year, successful career as a Police Officer for Watsonville Police Department. He was proud to serve as the first Spanish-speaking officer for the department, where his bi-lingual skill set would lend itself well to an abundance of cases throughout his tenure. He would build a strong rapport throughout the community as "Officer Bill," instructing and mentoring Watsonville's youth on all-things "safety." During his time "in blue," he would also be heavily involved in the launch of Watsonville's Neighborhood Watch Program.

In addition to working on the police force, he invested a great deal of his time supporting the community. He served as a Director of the local Boys Club for several years and would form some of his fondest memories on the baseball field, where he'd spend 11 years coaching kids through their Little League ventures, including his 3 sons.

He had an unparalleled sense of sarcastic humor and would often make his family and friends smile through his witty conversation, while all-at-once captivating you with his charming, bluest-of-blue eyes. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who spent as much time as he could with his family, making everyone feel special and loved.

Manny is survived by his wife of 68 years, Gloria, sons David (Marylou), Ron (Terry), Dan (Gretchen), daughters Diane Rood (Mark), Julie Sebring (Brad); grandchildren Kyle, Bret, Brooke, Josh, Courtney, Jacob, Ashley, Katie, and Taylor; and numerous great-grandchildren. The family is holding a viewing on April 4, 2024, between 3-7pm, and a Rosary from 7-9pm at Mehl's Colonial Chapel in Watsonville, CA. A private service will be held on April 5, 2024, to celebrate Manny's life.

Published in The Pajaronian · March 26, 2024