Samuel A. Martinez

Sam was my Uncle, he will be sorely missed. I was so happy to see him at his daughter Jenny's wedding and shared some time swimming, dancing and talking. Such a strong, intellegent man. I was surprized to hear that he collected beany babies, and now everytime I see them I think of him. With love, Nancy Cushanick

Sam was a wonderful teacher, principal and friend. I am honored to have known him in all of these roles. He expected the best from his students and his teachers. He encouraged us all to be learners and leaders. He had a caring heart and a listening ear when needed.
Sam made me laugh with his military organization. His classroom was across from mine at Shawnee Park. His kids were always at "attention" in a perfectly straight line when entering the building or moving through thee hallways....

I had Mr. Martinez for 6th grade as well and he was a GREAT teacher! That grade was most memorable because of him. He kept good discipline, but most importantly, you knew that he cared about you. Whether you did something wrong and had to stand on "el curbo" (the curb) at recess or not, you always liked and respected him. I liked his analogies like "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". Being a teacher myself, I definitely appreciate what a wonderful teacher he was! He is one...

I was in Mr. Martinez' 6th grade class, and my brother had him the year before me. He was one of my favorite teachers of all time -- he didn't take crap from us, but he was also really kind. He used army analogies to teach us lessons about life -- like "Going to school without your homework is like going to war without your rifle." I remember we had a "roast" for him at our 6th grade banquet, and we found a picture of a guy that looked just like him in a magazine and made a poster of Mr....

Dear family of Mr. Martinez,

Mr. Martinez was one of my favorite teachers at Shawnee Park Elementary School in Grand Rapids. I had him for 6th grade and although he could be strict, he had so much compassion and love for every one of his students. I used to get in trouble for talking and be moved to the back of the class but the next day, Mr. Martinez would have moved my chair back to the front. When I sat down, he'd wink at me so I knew that I had won another chance to be quiet!...

To Sam's Family-
The very first year I entered the administrative ranks, I was fortunate to be placed as assistant principal with Mr. Martinez. He was a mentor, friend, guide, counselor, father, and yes, sometimes a drill sergeant. I have many favorite memories to share.....the cabinet with the largest Snickers bars you could find, the footprints on the floor of his office (students needed to stand on them for a recess or classroom consequence), his dislike for computers, his desk clip...

Mr. Martinez was one of the best teachers I ever had. I was very fortunate to have been in his 6th grade class. I remember everyone being so scared at the beginning of the year to have him because he was so strict! Little did we know he had a giant heart and deeply cared about the accomplishments of each of us in his classroom. He really was a giant teddy bear in disguise. He used to come into my job in high school and college and was one of the people who encouraged me to be a teacher. I...

To the Family of Sam Martinez:
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this dufficult time. I was lucky to be a teacher at Alger while Sam was principal. I will always remember his big smile and words of encouragement to both teachers and students. He had one of the "biggest" hearts of anyone I know. He was not only my principal but also a friend. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.

To the Family of Sam Martinez:
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this dufficult time. I was lucky to be a teacher at Alger while Sam was principal. I will always remember his big smile and words of encouragement to both teachers and students. He had one of the "biggest" hearts of anyone I know. He was not only my principal but also a friend. He will truly be missed by all who knew him.