Dr. Fredy E. Martinez, 73, a retired longtime physician at Washington State University Health and Wellness Services, passed away New Year's Day at his Pullman home. A memorial gathering will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday January 23, 2015 at the Gladish Cultural & Community Center in Pullman.
A proud U.S. citizen for more than 25 years, Fredy was born Nov. 17, 1941, in Santa Ana, El Salvador. He was the oldest child of Gilberto and Luz (Mama Lucy) Martinez, who, as working professionals – he a tailor, businessman and senator under President Romero, and she, a pharmacist – set high standards that their son followed.
Fredy finished grammar school in in Ataco, El Salvador, and then moved to Atiquizaya to live with his beloved paternal grandmother Rosa for his first year of high school. He finished the next three years of high school when the family moved to San Salvador.
A brilliant mind and a thirst for knowledge that would last a lifetime led Fredy to the University of El Salvador and the study of medicine for the next seven years. Upon graduation in 1967, the new doctor was awarded the "Consejo Superior Universitario Centaroamericano" prize for best research thesis, titled "Contributions to the electrophysiological study of cardiac activity," in a Central American five-country region. As a result, the Pan-American Health Organization granted him a scholarship to pursue post-graduate studies at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
It was in Seattle that he met the love of his life, Montana-native Mary Sylvia Munzenrider. As a gifted, young neurologist, Fredy diagnosed Mary with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition that had stumped countless other doctors with whom she'd consulted. That began the foundation of intense pride in her future husband's medical prowess and led her siblings to dub him "The Great Dr. Fredy," a nickname that stuck.
It was with great sadness that the couple parted when Fredy had to return to his homeland at the end of his studies to fulfill an obligation of becoming a professor of medicine at his alma mater.
In 1972, military intervention at the El Salvadoran university and its subsequent closure forced Fredy to flee the country under dangerous circumstances. He traveled by land through El Salvador, crossing Guatemala and Mexico before finally returning to Seattle, where his sweetheart waited. While in Guatemala, he bought Mary a dress that she wore for their wedding on Feb. 2, 1973.
The couple was blessed with son Joe, to whom they devoted their lives. He was their proudest achievement, the best thing they'd ever done. Fredy's constant quest for knowledge inspired his son to develop a similar passion in Science and Technology.
In marrying Mary, he gained a second set of parents in hers, whom he fondly referred to as "R.J." and "Vangie," and a second set of siblings in the Munzenrider clan.
Fredy attended Medical School at UW before a brief stint working as a resident in Pullman. In the mid-1970s, the couple moved to Houston. In 1978, he decided to return to Pullman because he believed the climate and small community would be better for Mary's fragile health.
As a dedicated, hardworking WSU health service doctor, Fredy compassionately cared for tens of thousands of students over the years. Fredy also taught neurophysiology on the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) medical program at WSU for much as his tenure. He retired from the university in 2003, but his passion for learning about medicine continued with constant research and education until his dying day.
Until Mary's death in June 2012, Fredy was a devoted caregiver to his wife, who was homebound most of their marriage. He took her to many doctor appointments, cooked for her and helped her with every aspect of life. Losing her left a giant hole in his heart, his home and his life; he missed her fiercely.
Joe, his wife Mio and their dog Angel brought Fredy much love and joy. He never tired of talking about Joe's accomplishments and successes.
After Mary's death, Fredy spent a great deal of time with Joe and Mio and cared for their dog Angel for 6 weeks following critical knee surgery at the WSU veterinary school.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, sister Sylvia, grandparents, parents-in-law R.J. and Vangie Munzenrider, brother-in-law Steven Munzenrider and sister-in-law Connie Munzenrider.
He is survived by son Joe (Mio) Martinez of Seattle; sister Gladis (Carlos) Duarte of San Salvador, El Salvador; brothers Mario (Sabrina) of Dallas, Texas, and Ricardo of San Salvador, El Salvador; brothers- and sisters-in-law Joe Munzenrider of Helena, Mont.; Bob (Mary) Munzenrider of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jim (Debbie) Munzenrider of San Mateo, Calif.; Rosie (Vince) Buzzas of Missoula, Mont.; and Claire and Rita Munzenrider of Santa Fe, N.M., as well as many nieces and nephews all over the world.
Memorials in Fredy's name may be made to the Palouse Discovery Science Center/www.palousescience.net Kimball Funeral Home & Crematory of Pullman has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.