San Luis Obispo, California
Dr. William "Memo" MartÃnez Jr., 49, Chair of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department at Cal Poly, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, in Valladolid, Spain. Born Guillermo Humberto Martinez Lara in National City, Calif., Memo spent most of his childhood in extremely humble...
Read MoreMemo was a very dear friend. I was a Spanish major, met him as an undergraduate at San Diego State University while he was completing his Masters in Spanish. Everything said about Memo is true. He was a ray of sunshine for so many. My deepest condolences to his wife and to the community that lost a treasure.
Maricel Cruz
April 15, 2025 | Friend
I found myself today thinking of Memo, and decided to "google" him, and now I find myself shocked and profoundly saddened to read of my dear friend Memo's passing. Friends while we both attended Southwestern College, I have wonderful memories of his hugs and incredibly sweet laugh and that twinkle in his eye. My deepest condolences to his wife and family.
Beth Casey
December 20, 2012 | Chula Vista, CA
Memo,
It has been a lifetime since those days at UCI. You made those years meaningful for me. Even though space and time kept us from keeping closer contact I always thought of you and our sporadic email contact verified that you remembered our friendship as warmly as I do.
¡Te encontraré a faltar amigo mío!
Eriko, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Marnie Falcón
January 29, 2011 | Barcelona, Spain
Dr. Martinez will be sorely missed by myself and all my fellow Modern Languages and Literatures students as well as those who simply took one or two classes from him. I enjoyed having him for several classes and my senior project as well as working in the MLL office. I am praying for each and every one of you that Jesus our Comfortor will comfort your hearts during this time of loss. May Dr. Martinez memory live on and may we all be better than we were before for the sake of his memory.
January 29, 2011
Erika, Even though we have never meet personally (briefy at Michael and Tanya Carr's wedding) I am sorry to hear about Memo passing away so suddenly. My sister, Alma, and I meet Memo when we were students at Southwestern Community College back in the early 1980's. I will always remember Memo as a very helpful, kind, and warm person. Most of all I remember his sense of humor and full of life. I was very fortunate to have known Memo.
Maria Aguilar
January 20, 2011 | San Diego, CA
Eriko, I am a former student of your husband's. The last time I was in San Luis Obispo--in 2005--we shared dinner together, and then returned to your apartment to look at your photography. I, like so many, am so grateful for his life, his love of poetry, his easy laughter and his rigorous teaching. Memo loved you so much--I often saw it sparkle in his eyes. May your journey through grief be somehow softened by being loved so deeply by him. My heart aches with you. Blessings.
Amy (Wevodau) Malskeit
January 19, 2011 | Littleton, CO
I had the pleasure of spending the summer of 2008 with Professor Martinez in Valladolid. Although I have not seen him since, I often think back to his kind words. His love and passion for Spain and the Spanish language was contagious. I will forever carry with me the wonderful memories of my summer in Spain with Professor Martinez. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." ~Henry Brooks Adams
Negisa Taymourian
January 14, 2011 | San Carlos, CA
I had the pleasure to meet Memo through a dear friend of mine. I didn't know Memo well , in fact I was only in his company a few times. But in those few times I knew I was in the company of a beautiful spirit as well as a beautiful human.
In our short time together, Memo made it a point to tell me how much he enjoyed the music I help in making. That compliment has stayed with me.
I've lit a few candles for Memo since his passing, and played him a tune or two.
Craig Nuttycombe
January 13, 2011 | San Luis Obispo, CA
I have fond memories of Dr Martinez as his student at Cal Poly for several classes from 1993 to 1998. I am shocked to hear of his unexpected passing and would like to offer my condoleces to his wife, his colleagues and his students. May he rest in peace and may God grant those grieving lots of strength.
Alejandra Salazar
January 13, 2011 | San Jose, CA