Manuel “Mac” Martinez
1926 — 2022
Manuel Martinez was nicknamed “Mac” because his classmates thought he resembled a character from the newspaper comic strip called, “Tillie the Toiler.” Mac grew up to be a champion boxer and popular speaker. Three scripture readings were the foundation of his motivational speech, “Fear, Faith, and Perseverance”: Psalm 27:1, Philippians 4:13, and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Mac was never shy about sharing his story of humble beginnings. His parents had immigrated from Mexico, with children Joe and Mary. Mac was born in Nebraska a few months later. The family moved to Turlock, California, where Nena and Ruben were born.
Mac’s mother, Jennie, became a single mother with five children to feed. This was during the Great Depression. Times were tough. Jennie was deeply spiritual, with powerful prayers, and legendary miracles happened. She wove a tight knit, spiritual family.
Mac was inspired by Don Quixote, who dreamed of chivalry, of being a knight, and defending his nation. Mac’s world was ultimately changed, based upon that dream. Inspired by his brother Joe and wanting to be “American,” Mac enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Quick and agile, Mac quickly rose up the ranks. He was placed in a dangerous position, as a radio transmitter. Mac was right in the middle of the battlefields communicating orders between the Lieutenant Forward Observer and the troop brigades. After victory prevailed, Mac was discharged and returned home at the age of 20 years old.
Mac’s good friends Frank Davis and Tom Clayton encouraged him to pursue college. They thought he should become a university coach. He attended Modesto Junior College. Mac was an excellent athlete, having lettered in football, track, baseball, basketball, and tennis. Due to his small stature, he was encouraged to pursue boxing. The renowned boxing coach, DeWitt “Dee” Portal, recruited him to San Jose State College. Dee connected the family with a realtor who found them a home to buy. He negotiated the price down, from $12,000 to $9,000. Grandma Jennie brought out her cookie jar, with almost $2,000 saved, for the down payment. The family moved to Willow Glen in San Jose, California.
The boxing matches were huge events. The stadiums were filled, with over 5,000 roaring spectators. Prior to each boxing match, Mac was filled with terror. Mac had a prayer: “Dear Lord, help me to do my best. Win or lose, let me do it like a Christian.” Then he would jump into the ring, energetic, with dazzling footwork and a quick, non-stop style. He was known as a “show-stopper” and the fans loved him. Mac was an undefeated NCAA, AAU, and PCI Champion. Coach Dee was quoted saying, “There’s never been a boy like Mac. He has a routine—he prays before each bout. I let him pray—don’t mess with a winning formula!”
Bill Walsh, a fellow student, would bring the football players to line the gym walls and watch the boxers train. Walsh was fascinated with the boxers’ footwork, which inspired his famous West Coast Offense play and later led the 49ers to multiple Super Bowl Championships.
Mac’s San Jose State fellow boxing teammates, and title-holders Al Tafoya and heavyweight Jack Scheberies remained lifelong friends. Mac reached the pre-Olympic finals and suffered an injury. He took this as a sign to put his boxing gloves down. The recognition from boxing opened doors for him and launched his career. He started coaching water polo and swimming, and teaching Spanish at Woodrow Wilson and Lincoln High School in San Jose.
He had been attending the Presbyterian Church, but heard that there were gorgeous Swedish women at the First Covenant Church in San Jose. He fell in love the moment he stepped in the chapel and saw a beautiful woman named Ruth Lundberg playing the piano. They were married three months later. Four children followed: Calvin, Jeni, Brian, and Denise. He nicknamed the kids his “Swedish tamales.” Later he was blessed by two grandsons, Calvin and Fionnan.
Mac continued his studies to the doctorate level. He was also involved in politics. He campaigned for, and won the position of a Campbell Union High School District Board Trustee. He was a delegate to the California School Board Association Assembly, and also served on the Good Samaritan Hospital Board.
Mac shared his zest for adventure with us. His good friend, Tom Clayton, was working for the Embassy in the Dominican Republic and invited Calvin and me (Jeni) to visit. We were teenagers and we stayed for two weeks. Their cars had government license plates and we were driven around, like James Bond, speeding past the cars that were stopped and lined up in roadblocks, bypassing and waving away at the “Federales”—wow, was that an adventure!!
My father also arranged for Calvin and me to have lunch with Congressman Norman Mineta, in the Capitol Dining Room in Washington D.C. We got to hear from Norman about the Japanese Reparation Act which he had championed, and had passed (Civil Liberties Act of 1988). Nancy Pelosi came bouncing up to our table and introduced herself. After lunch, Norman led us to the House of Representatives where he carefully explained the process of voting to take place that afternoon. Norman also advised us of the likely votes anticipated from each Congressional Representative. It was a fascinating experience.
Mac retired as Dean of Continuing Education at West Valley College. My parents wanted to immerse themselves in each other’s cultures, so they first lived in Mexico for 6 months, and then in Sweden for 6 months. Mac studied, and learned to speak Swedish, making that his fifth language: English, Spanish, French, Sign Language, and Swedish.
Mac and Ruth sold their home in Campbell, and moved to Covenant Living in Santa Barbara, The Samarkand. They reconnected with the residents who were lifelong acquaintances and also met new friends. Samarkand residents remember Mac as a formidable pool player. Mac served multiple terms on the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury. He also tutored students at La Cumbre Junior High. When Ruth passed away, he returned to San Jose, and has lived most recently at Oakmont Senior Living.
Mac’s legacy lives on. He donated his brain for research to the Boston University Brain Bank, for CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), which studies the effects of and works toward a cure for repetitive head injuries. Also, his portrait is included in an installation of veterans’ photographs called “American Heroes - Portraits of Service,” and hangs in a permanent exhibit at the Chicago O’Hare Airport, (Terminal 3), viewed by thousands of people who walk by daily.
Mac credited the success of his boxing championships to the prayers from his mother and sister Nena at home. Mac and his siblings had a challenging childhood, but the Lord had a protective hand over them and they always knew that.
When he and his parents and older siblings arrived in California in 1928, they knew no one. They were just a migrant family in an abandoned house with no one to look out for them. God saw them, loved them, and wanted them for his own. Ladies from the neighbourhood noticed activity in the house, saw the little family, and returned with food and clothes and blankets and with the message of God’s love. At the age of two, the Lord sought little Manuel, and later Mac chose to make the Saviour his Lord. The rest of his life became a ministry.