Remembering Carlos: students and staff mourn loss of teacher and friend

By SUE LOUNDS

Mid-Michigan lost a vital, active, caring teacher and coach Jan. 4 as the result of an auto accident. Carlos Martinez began teaching vocational education and physical education classes in St. Johns in the fall of 1999. He also coached wrestling and football.

Martinez taught for one year at St. Louis prior to coming to St. Johns, and before that taught vocational education at Carson City-Crystal for eight years. He was also an assistant football coach for Carson City-Crystal.

"With Carlos, vocational education was a class, not a dumping ground," said Chuck Larkins, principal at Carson City-Crystal Middle School. "He taught kids what they needed to know. He was a pusher to get technology into our vocational education department."

St. Johns Athletic Director John Wilcox has memories of Martinez dating back to 1972, the first year Wilcox came to St. Johns. He was coaching freshman football that fall and Martinez, then in sixth grade, was his manager. Since then, the two have shared many hours at the football field, on the baseball field, and in school.

"Carlos was the kind of guy who could brighten everyone's day," Wilcox said. "He had a tremendous work ethic and was probably the consummate over-achiever, always working to do better."

The staff at SJHS is dealing with the loss the best they can. Some of them have known Martinez only for a short time but already felt a closeness to their outgoing, hard-working co-worker. Some have known him for years.

"I remember that big smile that was always there," said Jim Cleaver, a vocational education teacher and wrestling coach who had Carlos in class in the 1970s. "You'd look out over the classroom, and you couldn't miss it. But what I remember most was the family - a big, strong, close, wonderful family. You can't say enough about what a role model Carlos and his family are to the entire community."

Students will also miss their teacher and coach and friend. The consensus around SJHS is that Martinez was a "great guy" who cared about his students and had time to listen - not just talk to or at them.

"He could always make me smile, even if it was a bad day," said Carmen Ramirez, one of his seminar students.

Many of his students echoed that sentiment. They will miss his concern and support.

"He was my wrestling coach. He was really a great guy who always had time for everybody out on the mat," said freshman wrestler Brad Hettler. "He was a big part of our team, and I am really going to miss him."

Wrestling managers Kristen Hensley and Melissa Bowers explained his relationship to the wrestling team this way: "Our team is very family-oriented. He was our after-school and Saturday father."

The students loved him because he cared enough to give his time to teach them about welding and carpentry, about football and wrestling. He showed through his example that caring about others is a good thing - that listening is more important than talking - that the only way to get something you want is to work for it.