SR0147 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0147 LRB100 10132 KLG 21564 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Filiberto R. Martinez of Elgin, who passed away on January 17, 2017 at the age of 88; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez was born in Mission, Texas to Telesforo and Rafaela (Rodriguez) Martinez on March 16, 1928; in 1930, he moved to Matanzas, Mexico; his childhood years in Mexico were very difficult and so at an early age, he had to leave school to work in the fields and tend to the farm animals; in 1946, at the age of 17, he left Mexico and returned to Texas; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez worked picking tomatoes and other vegetables; he also learned the hard work of cotton picking; he eventually found his way to Elgin, and worked for the Campbell Soup factory in West Chicago, and then he worked on the railroad; he later worked at the Woodruff & Edward Foundry along the Fox River; he was employed by Chicago Rawhide for over 30 years, retiring in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez returned to Matanzas for a visit in 1956 and met Josefina Delgado; they married that same year and were married for 60 years; together they returned to Texas with other friends and family members beginning a long procession of people from Matanzas to Elgin; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez and his wife were very active in the Elgin community; together they formed the Club Guadalupano of Elgin with the purpose of maintaining the traditions of their culture; they organized Mexican Independence Day festivities and parades, Virgen de Guadalupe celebrations, the Posadas, picnics, and more; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez was a great son, always aware of the needs of his parents; he was a good husband and father, ensuring the well-being of his family; he was a good brother, helping his extended family as best he could; he was a good uncle, on several occasions taking the role of father for many of his nieces and nephews in the absence of their own fathers; he was a loving grandfather, always promoting education as something that once achieved could never be wrestled away and as the path to a better future; he was a good citizen, fulfilling his duties in his birth country as well as the country where he was raised; he generously helped others improve the standard of living for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez invested in water projects for Matanzas; he always had the dream that someday his town would have portable water; his desire was that the people of Matanzas would enjoy the same comforts he enjoyed in Elgin, especially for the women who are most impacted by the lack of running water; he was a great man, a pioneer, and an extraordinary person; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Victoria; and his brothers, Angel, Miguel, and Panfilo; and

WHEREAS, Filiberto Martinez is survived by his wife, Josefina; his children, Martha (Jesus) Martinez, Filiberto "Tito" (Socorro) Martinez Jr., Rosamaria "Rose" Martinez, and Monica M. (Hector) Vallejo; his grandchildren, Adrian, Vanessa, Miguel, Mario, Janel (Eric), Monica (Don), and Juan Andres "Papo"; his great-grandchildren, Leslie and Cairo; his sisters, Reyes (Angel), Juana, and Aurelia; his brothers, Socorro and Ernesto; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Filiberto R. Martinez, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Filiberto Martinez as an expression of our deepest sympathy.