Francisco Martinez of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 29 ^th , 2020, at his daughter's home in Goochland, Virginia. He was 96 years old.

Francisco or "Chini," as he was affectionately known, was born on October 25 ^th , 1923, in San Nicolás, Cuba. He was the son of the late Domingo Martinez and Eliza Nuñez of San Nicolás, Cuba. He was their seventh child and had thirteen brothers and sisters. Chini is survived by his wife Victoria Martinez; his sister Adelaida Martinez; his son, Francisco Martinez and his wife Roxana Martinez; his daughter Mercedes Thompson and her husband Francis Thompson; his grandchildren Christina Thompson, Alexandria Thompson, Maria Stevener and her husband Andrew, Adrian Martinez, and Christian Martinez; his great grandchildren Madalynn Thompson, and Noah and Parker Stevener; and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Francisco grew up in San Nicolás, Cuba. He had a fierce entrepreneurial spirit, and at the young age of eighteen, he opened his first 'bodega' in Lawton Havana, Cuba. Building off that success, he subsequently opened a second bodega within a couple of years and he quickly grew other retail businesses shortly thereafter.  Chini had an innate ability to quickly solve math problems, which contributed to his business acumen and led his grandchildren to give him the title of 'el banco' (the bank).

Francicso met the love and light of his life, Victoria Martinez, at his sister's wedding celebration in 1950. Almost two years after they met, he made her his bride on November 4 ^th , 1951 at Nuestra Señora de la Paz in Nueva Paz, Cuba. four years later, they had a son, Francisco, and four years after that, a daughter, Mercedes.

In 1965, in an effort to better his family's circumstances, he made the difficult decision to leave Communist Cuba and move his wife, two children, and mother-in-law to freedom in the United States. Their journey first included a brief stay in Mexico City where they applied and received their residency status continued on to Miami, and eventually settled in Arlington, Virginia. They made Arlington, Virginia their home where he began working maintenance for the Fairfax County Public Schools. For the second time in his life, Chini found great success and continued to provide for his family. In 1974, he proudly became a citizen of the United States and was truly able to call America his home. He was extremely proud to be an American and a true Cuban born American patriot.

To know " Tío Chini" was to know a man of love, loyalty, generosity, and strength. He fiercely loved his family and did everything he could in order to protect and provide for them. In Cuba, he established and ran successful businesses, and then in Virginia he regularly picked up extra work on the weekends to provide even more for his family and others. At one point, he even taught other adults how to drive, but after some narrow escapes determined it wasn't the safest profession! He enjoyed cooking meals with his wife Victoria, especially during large family gatherings where they would host 25 plus of their extended family members. He particularly loved Noche Buena, when all his family gathered around the same table to celebrate Christmas Eve.

He immediately befriended any Cuban-American that crossed his path.  He was always willing to help others and often sacrificed in order to take care of others. He enjoyed cheering for the Redskins and the Washington Senators, now the Nationals – and he was especially thrilled to see the Nationals become World Series Champions this past year.

While he yearned for Cuba to return to the prosperous land it was before 1959, he was grateful to have made a home in the United States with his family.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21371 St. Theresa Lane, Asbhurn, VA  20147 where a Mass will begin at 10:30 am.  Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Annandale, VA .

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests for donations to be made to St. Theresa Catholic Church, 21371 St. Theresa Lane, Ashburn, Va. 20147.