Our beloved brother and friend, John Phillip Martinez (34) succumbed to his battle with cancer early Sunday morning in the hospital on November 12, 2023.

John was born in Martinez, CA on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1988, to parents John and Caroline. He grew up in Antioch, CA and from an early age, developed a passion for football. He played in high school, and loved the level of dedication, hard work, teamwork, and camaraderie that football provided and demanded. He graduated from Antioch High School in 2007 and it was only fitting that once John had the opportunity to join another team, he did. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2009 and did two tours of duty – one in Iraq in 2009 and one in Afghanistan in 2012. John was active until 2014 and was in the reserves until 2016. He then volunteered at the River Delta Fire District until once again, he joined another team and became a firefighter with Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) in 2017. He earned Contra Costa Firefighter of the year in 2022. He loved his profession, his community, and his country. He was truly an American hero.

He met the love of his life, Sara, in high school in 2005. They got married on May 11, 2009, and moved to Washington later that year. In 2011, they welcomed their first child, a son Dominic (12) who is John's mini-me. They moved to Georgia for a brief period before moving back to California in 2014. In 2020, they had their second child, a daughter Caylee (3). John was a loyal husband, a proud father, and a good provider. He loved taking his family to Disneyland and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom; and he enjoyed watching his son play football and playing video games with him.

John enjoyed working out, cooking, watching the Atlanta Falcons, and working on cars. He never ventured far from his family, and most would call him a "homebody." He was an extremely diligent worker, a determined human being, and a loyal friend. He fought his battle with cancer courageously until the bitter end. He will be missed but not forgotten.

John is preceded in death by his mother Caroline. He is survived by his wife Sara, his two children – Dominic and Caylee, his father John (wife Bonni), grandmother's Maggie Martinez and Maria Vizcarra, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A vigil will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 6:00pm. Funeral service Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 10:00am both days at St. Ignatius of Antioch.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to California Fire Foundation (https://www.cafirefoundation.org/)  on behalf of FF John Martinez