Martin Quintana

Martin Cecilio Israel Quintana, was born with no shortage of names to Anatolia Cue and Julio Quintana in Lajas, Cuba on November 22, 1926. He was the older brother to Jose Thomas, Julio and Eugenio. Always interested in electronics, he took a correspondence course and became an electrician. In November of 1954, his adventurous side led him to Los Angeles where he lived and worked for a time. He returned to Cuba in November of 1956 to marry Georgelina Garcia, the love of his life, on December 21st of that same year. Despite our dad’s love for Las Vegas slot machines, Keno, and the lottery, he knew that his real jackpot in life was our mother. they shared nearly 56 years of martial bliss (although we are sure that there were times when it felt more like “married to this!)

The young newlyweds returned to Los Angeles where the oldest of us, Martin Jr., was born. Shortly after his birth, the little family of three returned to Cuba where dad’s dream of having many children was realized when six more of us; John, Victor, Maria, Teresa, Ralph, and Barbara joined the family. In May of 1969 he moved the brood to California (he would never again return to his beloved Cuba). The next few years were filled with memories of loud family parties and pig roasts, camping trips and nightly prayers where all nine of us piled onto our parent’s bed and prayed a rosary followed by bowls of our dad’s favorite ice cream, coconut-pineapple.

In the 1980’s, dad began a new career in real estate, and with the kids flying the coop, he and mom traveled to many places. After retirement, he filled his days with Fox News, family, friends, visits to all of his favorite shops around town and being a Eucharistic Minister. In January of 2010, dad was diagnosed with two types of cancer, and he was given six months to live. Fortunately for us, he out lived that diagnosis by two years. During his last few years he never lost his love for life, and he always accepted his burden’s as God’s will. Dad was the mold of faith and strength for his 7 children, 18 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, children in-law, many nieces, and nephews, and friends. His death has left a huge gap in our lives, but his memory leaves a beautiful place in our hearts. Gracias por todo Papi!