Valentino E. Martinez Jr.

I was a student of Professor Martinez at Purdue Cal. He had an amazing way of challenging people on all kinds of beliefs. He would never tell a person that they were wrong. Rather, he would ask lots of questions. He had a phrase he used often, "In my class, we make arguments, not assertations." He changed my way of looking at the world and forced me to challenge my own closely held beliefs. I realized that many of the opinions I held were not based in reality. Once I hit that point, I kind of...

Val Martinez was my mentor at Grand Canyon University, I miss him and wished we had more time to talk. I's a parapro at a highschool right now and have attempted to adopt his teaching style. He was my hero. I send all my love to his family.

I am so sorry to learn of Val's death. My heartfelt sympathy to his family. I knew Val at Princeton University and I was the friend who persuaded him to take the Foreign Service Exam. I even picked up coffee and drove him to the exam site just to make sure he went through with it. Val was brilliant and full of the right kind of fury. What a loss. RIP.

I was just thinking about him as I approach my Masters graduation. Professor Martinez shaped me. I miss him!

Val was very close friend since we met in 1976 in Bloomington, IN. Fortunately, our lives intersected many times after that. He was one of the smartest and most grounded people I have had the pleasure to know, a rare combination. I attribute that to his close-knit family and what he referred to as "no nonsense Midwestern upbringing." Growing up in nearby Goshen, I knew exactly what he meant. He never stopped reading, learning, or listening to great music. It didn´t surprise me that...

Val and I joined the Foreign Service together forty years ago. He was one of the smartest and most original diplomats of our generation. He was also my best friend and best man. His loss leaves the world a little darker without the light he brought to it. It was the honor of a lifetime to know Val and to call him a brother officer. Que te vaya bien, mi amigo. Hasta siempre.

I had the pleasure of serving with, and doing life with Val in Mexico City. We informally sang together as "Little Elvis and the Teardrops." I wish I had stayed in touch. Val had a great impact on my life in the way he led, and the integrity with which he approached all aspects of his life. Rest in peace, my friend. God is enjoying a tune with Val in heaven today ... likely Carlos Santana.

All of our love to you Nancy and your family in this time of sorrow. We love and will miss Val forever.

Deeply saddened to hear of Professor Martinez's passing. I am originally from Ireland and an alumni of Purdue Calumet. I was a student in all of his classes offered and enjoyed our talks outside in the courtyard after. I was amazed of his stories and first hand accounts of his involvement with the Good Friday Agreement and ultimate end of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. To his family my humble sympathies and it was an honor to have known him. I pray you find peace.