Roquez (Rocky) Porfirio Martinez

Posted

martinez-rocky-photoRoquez (Rocky) Porfirio Martinez, 85, of Longmont, passed away on Oct. 17 at Longmont United Hospital.

Rocky was born on May 17, 1931, to Jose Fidel and Clarita Maria Martinez in Trujillo, Colo. Following high school, Rocky served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1952-1956.

Rocky married Gloria Jennie Archuleta in Durango, Colo., on June 11, 1955. They lived in Vacaville, Calif,, where he was stationed at Travis Air Force Base, until his honorable discharge as a disabled veteran in 1956. Rocky and Gloria then moved to the Denver area, where they lived for 24 years and raised four children. Rocky spent his entire 30-year career working for Gates Rubber Company and retired as a manufacturing supervisor in 1981. Upon his retirement, he and his wife split time between Durango and Tucson, Ariz., before permanently settling in Longmont in 2009. They also spent many winter seasons in Mazatlán, Mexico, and enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska.

Rocky had a lifelong love of sports, coaching for both of his sons’ baseball, football and basketball teams while they were growing up. He shared with all his children the love of camping and both snow skiing and water skiing, and enjoyed playing golf with his wife, sons and grandchildren. He was an avid Colorado Rockies fan and a die-hard Denver Broncos fan, holding season tickets for many years from the team’s inception. He loved watching his beloved Broncos win Super Bowl 50 and was hoping for a repeat season.

Rocky is survived by his wife, Gloria, of Longmont; son Gerald (Margaret) Martinez, of Westminster, Colo.: daughter Joyce Martinez, of Portland, Ore.; son Robert (Arlene) Martinez, of Westminster, Colo.; daughter Janice Tringale, of San Francisco, Calif.; five grandchildren: Christopher, Jocelyn, Regina, Marcus and Garrett; and four great-grandchildren: Michael, Daniela, Timothy and Josephine. He is also survived by brothers John (Linda) Martinez, of Frederick, Colo., and Herman (Donna) Martinez, of St. Louis, Mo.

Rocky was devoted to his family and to his deep Catholic faith.

Preceding him in death are his parents and brother Max, and sisters Mercedes, Teresa, Rosina and Matilda.

There will be a rosary service at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Howe Mortuary Chapel in Longmont. There will be a second rosary at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. The funeral Mass and inurnment will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. James Catholic Church in Trujillo, Colo.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.