Hemenegildo Marte Martinez, Jr.

Hemenegildo Marte Martinez Jr., lovingly known to many as J.R., passed away peacefully late Wednesday evening, June 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous 15-month battle with illness. 

Born on February 13, 1959, in the Dominican Republic, J.R. was the beloved son of the late Hemenegildo Marte Martinez, Sr. and Mercedes Marte Cordero. He was the oldest of seven siblings.

J.R.’s early years were spent in San Pedro de Macoris before he and his family immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Danbury, Connecticut. Later, the family moved to Massachusetts, where J.R. met his wife, Marisol. They married in Boston, MA where they established themselves and raised three wonderful children together.

 J.R. was known for his loving, kind, gentle, and funny nature. He was always the life of the party, lighting up any room with his smile and making everyone feel like they were the only person in the world. He had a remarkable ability to help those in need, often going out of his way to offer support, whether it was requested of him or not.

 J.R. committed his life to service, working as a loss prevention detective, and a Correctional Officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from where he later entered the academy to become a State Metropolitan Police Officer. J.R. was selected by the Boston Police Task Force to work as an undercover narcotics detective. He became a Massachusetts State Police Officer, where he served for 31 years before retiring as a Sergeant. His dedication was recognized with numerous awards and citations from various community organizations, some of which included, the State Police, the State of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, the Dominican Republic Consulate, Interpol, the DEA, and the IRS. These honors included medals of valor and many other achievements.

 Not only did J.R. work to serve his community through his career as a police officer, he also devoted years of his life to his local congregation serving in leadership and is fondly remembered as the Royal Rangers Commander. A program where he worked directly with young boys impacting their lives which is noted even today through the lives of these young men. 

 Family was everything to J.R. He cherished spending time with his loved ones and friends, enjoying simple pleasures like getting ice cream with his grandkids, going out to breakfast, cooking meals, camping, or just chatting about their day. His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, a time he loved for the gathering of family and friends, and he also cherished Christmas morning pajama parties.

 Even during his illness, J.R.’s selflessness shone brightly. He often focused on the well-being of others, asking to check in on friends and family instead of focusing on himself. His faith provided him strength, and he faced his illness with a positive spirit, humor, and confidence that he was going home to be with Jesus.

 J.R.’s proudest accomplishments were his marriage to Marisol, the birth of his three children, and his ever-growing group of grandchildren, currently numbering five. He was a devoted husband to Marisol Martinez; a loving father to Daniel Martinez, Cristina Benitez (married to Christopher Benitez), and Ester Mahase (married to Branden Mahase); and a proud grandfather to Joshua, Abigail, Lucas, Savannah, and Branden Jr. He is also survived by his siblings Ana Martinez, Noemi Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Jose Martinez, and Misael Martinez, as well as many nephews and nieces whom he loved dearly.

 To his family, J.R. often said, "Martinez pushing Martinez," a testament to his desire to elevate those around him. When asked what message he would like to pass on, he consistently said, "Love, that is what it's all about."

 Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during visiting hours on Friday, June 21, from 3-7 PM, at McDonald Keohane Funeral Home 40 Sea St. in North Weymouth. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 22, at 10 AM at the same location.

We sincerely thank everyone who supported J.R. during his illness. Your visits, messages, and prayers brought him immense joy and comfort. 

With heartfelt gratitude and love, The Martinez Family