In Memory

Rick Martinez

Richard Fidel "Rick" Martinez   July 28, 1953 – October 19, 2020

Rick was born July 28, 1953 in Dinkeyville, UT, and grew up in Salt Lake City.  Rick fully enjoyed life and was driven to achieve and to share.  Sadly, cancer has silenced his music.

 

A virtuoso banjo player, Rick performed bluegrass with musicians locally and abroad.  Groups included The Rick Martinez Band, Holdin' Out, Prairie Dogs, and recently, The Red Desert Ramblers Bluegrass Band.  He was Utah Banjo Player of the Year, and was awarded The Int'l Bluegrass Music Assoc.  best player of 5-string banjo, stating, "With a clean, precise, dynamic style, 30 years steeped in traditional and progressive bluegrass music." Rick's motto was 'Pickin' & Grinnin' and his bumper stick read, "Bluegrass Music-Finger Pickin' Good".


Rick was also three-time winner of State Championship Wrestling at East High School, a trophy-winning motocross racer, great skier, master on guitar and fiddle, and he won interstate Western Swing dance competitions with wife, RoLayne.  A successful businessman, he owned Rick's Cycle Parts.  Like his Dad, Phoenix Alexander is now a masterful guitarist/musician.


Rick is preceded by RoLayne Baldwin, his parents, Juan Fidel from Llano Largo, NM and Teodora Lujan Martinez from Placita, NM, his sister Lora, and brother Trinidad.  He leaves behind Phoenix Alexander (RoLayne), Richard "Ricky" Fidel, adopted son Bill, and stepson Alex (Hope Floyd).  His siblings are Enor Martinez (Josie), Nelia, Beverly, Bernice (John), Marie and Carol.  His nephews and nieces cherish their fun memories of play wrestling with Uncle Rick and hearing his hearty chuckles.  His warm smile and dry sense of humor will be missed by all.  He is buried at the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Magna.

(c) 2020 The Salt Lake Tribune (10/25). All rights reserved.

Many thanks to Gary Verchick EHS'71 for providing this obituary.

Many thanks to Tom Smokoff EHS'71 who's 2010 update clarified the earlier 2008 notification was in error.



 
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07/07/10 12:04 AM #1    

Tom Smokoff

 This is the wrong Rick Martinez, I had contact with our East High School classmate (State Wrestling Champion) on July 6th 2010 and he's alive and well.

Tom


10/26/20 11:19 AM #2    

Julie Tornquist (Jacobsen)

Ricky was a very nice guy and I remember what a great wrestler he was. 


10/26/20 04:57 PM #3    

Doris Winkler (Scholte)

Although I knew of Rick in school, I didn't know him very well, except that he was a very nice person and an excellent wrestler.  Andy and I have a group of neighborhood friends that I grew up with who still stay in contact.  One of them sang with Rick in the Prarie Dog group.  One year Rick joined us on our annual camping trip to Zion National Park.  We had a fun evening with the dueling banjos, "picking and grinning" until the neighboring campers were trying to sleep. Rick was having so much fun!  It was not too long after that that his partner passed away from cancer.  I am saddened to  see that Rick passed away from the horrible disease that he was bound and determined to find a cure for.  My heart goes out to his family.  I know that he had subsequently married again.


10/27/20 03:12 PM #4    

Steve Hatch

It was an honor to be on the wrestling team with Rick. He worked incredibly hard to win those three state championships (at 98 pounds!). He was tough, focused, and humble with a subtle sense of humor. I was not surprised to read that he was such an accomplished musician. He was the type of person who would reach the goals he had set. RIP Ricky - and thank you for enriching my life at East High.

 

   


11/01/20 05:11 PM #5    

Leo Kanell

I am so sorry to hear of the death of Ricky.  I was the co-captain with Rick on the East High Wrestling team in 1971.  Rick was a disciple of coach Iman Hales.  He really bought into coach Hales' teaching concerning the various "cradle" pin moves.  At the state finals in 1971, Rick was behind in points to his opponent when he secured a cradle move and turned him over for a dramatic pin.   Sadly, I haven't seen Rick since High School.


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