EL SERENO : Community Mourns Joe Martinez’s Death

Friends and relatives of Joe Dominguez Martinez, who died Christmas Day after a yearlong struggle with congestive heart problems, hope to name the new indoor swimming pool at the El Sereno Recreation Center after him.

Martinez, 79, who was active in local youth activities with his wife, Marina, had worked as a community representative at El Sereno Junior High School for 18 years and was a Pop Warner football coach while his sons were growing up. He also was involved in youth boxing, summer recreation programs and the Wilson High School Boosters.

Before working at the junior high, Martinez was employed for 35 years at Zinsco Electrical Products.

An Army veteran of World War II, he was commander of American Legion Post 435.

Students at El Sereno High School put up flyers around the school last week that read, “We will miss you, Joe.”

“There was no cholito at the junior high that didn’t get counseling from Joe,” said friend Lou Santillan. “He was loved by everybody.”

Martinez suffered a minor heart attack 18 years ago, but another one last January severely damaged his heart, said his wife of 55 years. He returned to work at the school two months ago after taking six months off to recuperate.

“It was hard for him because he had always been so active,” Marina Martinez, 73, said.

The couple had lived in El Sereno 45 years and raised four children: Steve, Dolores, Mike and Ismael. Ismael died in 1983.

Martinez is also survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Donations may be made to the nonprofit El Sereno Youth Development Corp., 5130 Huntington Drive South, Suite 107, Los Angeles 90032.