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Martin Rodriguez Gomez, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on March 15, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He will be remembered for his bright smile, gentle spirit, captivating stories, and the kindness he so freely shared with everyone he met. Martin believed deeply in leaving things better than he found them, and he lived that belief each and every day. Through his love, generosity, and the way he cared for others, he truly left this world a better place. Martin was born February 23,1944 in Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia, the son of Martin Gustavo Rodriguez Beltran and Anunciación Gomez de Rodriguez. Seeking adventure, he traveled to the United States, landing in New York City in 1965. He joined the United States Army in 1967, where he served honorably in the Vietnam War. Martin dedicated his professional life to cytology, where he examined human cell samples under a microscope to detect signs of cancer, infection, or disease. He influenced the world of medicine and cytology in the U.S. Military earning two Meritorious Service Medals awarded from the Department of Pathology and Area Laboratory Service. He served as a Medical Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) and Cytology Specialist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC; at the U.S. Army Hospital in Wuerzburg, Germany; and at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. Martin established the first Flow Cytometry and Electron Microscopy in the United States Army during his time at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), which were used in furthering AIDs research. He retired from the United States Army in 1989. Martin graduated from Baylor University, earning an Associate’s Degree in Science; and from Incarnate Word College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Allied Health Sciences. He also earned his Cytotechnology Certification at the U.S. Army School of Cytotechnology at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). Martin married Martha Huerfano on March 19, 1995, in Duitama, Boyacá, Colombia, in a ceremony officiated by Monsignor Ricardo Pongutá. Their love story began a year earlier, when Martha arrived in San Antonio, Texas, in 1994, marking the start of a beautiful and enduring partnership. Together, Martin and Martha built a close-knit and devoted family, grounded in a deep and abiding love. As best friends, they shared life’s simplest and most meaningful joys: running at Fort Sam Houston, enjoying coffee at the kitchen table, sharing wine on the patio they built together, and spending hours walking through San Antonio’s parks. They never ran out of things to talk about, always eager to learn more about one another. Martin and Martha truly embodied unconditional love, living out their vows each and every day, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. Martin was the proud father of six children: Annalisa, Gustavo, Amy, Jennifer, Carlos, and Alejandra. Though he was humble in all things, he was never modest when it came to two things: his Colombian culture and his children. He took immense pride in his family and delighted in sharing their latest accomplishments with anyone who would listen. Between 1989 and 2020, Martin worked as a Director of Technical Operations at International Cancer Screening Laboratories (ICSL), as a Compliance Officer and Laboratory Manager at PathNet Laboratory, and retired with LabCorp in 2020. Martin had a deep love for photography, especially capturing his travels around the world, birds, flowers, Colombian landscapes, and moments with his family. His favorite place in the world was his backyard in San Antonio, where he spent countless weekends grilling for his family and tending to his garden. As a man of many talents, he had an engineer’s mind and could fix anything, from microscopes to cars and everything in between. As a man of faith, Martin was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and spent many years supporting St. Pius X School in any way he could. He was also involved in professional organizations within the cytology field, including the American Society for Cytotechnology, American Society of Cytopathology, International Society for Analytical Cytology, American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), and International Academy of Cytology (IAC). Remaining to cherish Martin’s memory include his beloved wife, Martha Huérfano Rodriguez; children, Annalisa (and Michael), Martin Gustavo, Amy(and Scott), Jennifer, Carlos Martin (and Grace) and Alejandra (and Maxwell); grandchildren, Victor, Eliciana, Maya and Ava; great-grandchildren, Azul and Leia; brother, Luis Enrique; bonus kids, Myriam Lucia, Paula Catalina, and Joyce; mother in-law; Paulina Sandoval De Huerfano; cuñaditos, Luz Maela Castellanos, Ana Alejandra Huerfano, and Mauricio Palacio; and caring role model, Mario Fernández. Preceding Martin in death are parents, Martin Gustavo Rodriguez and Anunciación Gomez de Rodriguez; sister, Ana Lucia; cousins, Manuelito, Luis Antonio, Carlos; grand-nephew, Xavier; father in-law, Carlos Huerfano-Swancha; and caring role model, Emita Fernández. We invite you to join us at a visitation to remember Martin's life on Monday, March 23, 2026 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Mission Park North Funeral Home on Cherry Ridge. The rosary will be held immediately after at 6:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Krikor Chahin officiating. Honor guard service will be conducted by JBSA Army Honor guard. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Martin's life may be directed to Children's Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP Camp), American Lung Association, or the Alzheimer’s Association. Martin’s life was a testament to love, faith, and strength. His legacy will continue to live on in all of those who were blessed to know and love him. Donation links: Children's Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP Camp): https://secure.qgiv.com/for/supportcamp/ American Lung Association: https://action.lung.org/site/Donation2?df_id=31272&mfc_pref=T&31272.donation=form1 Alzheimer’s Association: https://donorservices.alz.org/page/FUNZRKELQMQ?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_google_SL&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1707986387&gbraid=0AAAAAD8nX1qXUoEb79Wg1MgNtzObWOEjS&gclid=Cj0KCQjwve7NBhC-ARIsALZy9HV8HaRSXbDSQgnoilo5UapkZfAgP_fRT4MK8ryJayt4GNwHFR9nJF0aAgTVEALw_wcB

Tributes

Martin Rodriguez-Gomez

February 23, 1944 - March 15, 2026