John Robert Martinich Jr.

MARTINICH John Robert Martinich, Jr., 88, of Jacksonville Beach died March 31, 2006 from natural causes during a stay at Avante Nursing Center. He was born December 31, 1917 in Rankin, Pennsylvania, the son of the late John Robert, Sr. and Catherine Tasic Martinich. John came to Florida for Army basic training after attending high school in Swissvale, Pennsylvania. He served in England, Ireland, North France, and Germany during World War II in the 152nd Artillery Battalion as first cook. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Jacksonville Beach. From that time until his retirement, he worked as a painter at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and a maintenance superintendent with the Innlet at Ponte Vedra Beach for more than forty years where co-workers described him as "devoted to his job - always willing to pitch in with whatever is needed" and as having "a splendid spirit of cooperation." John was an active lifetime member of the Beaches Elks Lodge and developed many friendships with other veterans through his memberships in the local VFW and American Legion posts. Aside from his "broad smile and ready laugh," John will be most remembered for his love of music (aptly noted in a description from his high school yearbook) and his countless performances on the accordion at various civic, social, private, and church events, as well as at restaurants, over a span of more than sixty years. John is survived by four sisters, Ann Martinich, Jeanne Anast, Kay Harman, and Barbara Duch, sister-in-law Agnes Martinich, son Anthony Martinich, granddaughter Chloe, step-sons Joe Chao and Carl Sandifer, and step-daughter Patsy Hodges. He was preceded in death by Aline Martinich, his first wife, and Myrtie Martinich, his second wife. A grave-side ceremony will be held at Chapel Hills Memory Gardens on Friday, April 7, at 10:00 a.m. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com