Nazario Noel Posada Martinez Jr

Nazario “Noel” Posada Martinez, Jr., age 82, passed away on April 19, 2024, in San Mateo, California. He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and spent his life dedicated to hard work and providing for his family. He grew up in McAllen, Texas and he was very proud of his Texan roots. With that, he was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys football fan betting on them even in a losing season. Due to the nature of migrant farm work his parents and siblings settled in Selma, CA, calling it home and where several generations have been born and raised. 

Noel did not have an easy life. As a child, he worked on the streets of Mexico selling candy and shining shoes.  To survive his family traveled across the United States through seasons harvesting the abundance of crops and contributing to the agricultural industry to feed families across the country for decades. Being in the fields was a hard life yet he never complained. In 1960, he met Olga Gonzalez (from Sanger) at a dance in Selma and they married at the Sanger Courthouse in March 1963. They then fulfilled the sacrament of marriage at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in 1965, and they had six children. Noel taught his children the value of hard work as well as the injustices Mexican-Americans faced in the Central Valley and beyond. He took pride in the work he did, especially being a machine operator at Sun-Maid Raisins where he worked for nearly 30 years. He was a member of the Teamsters Union, advocating for better wages and benefits for his fellow workers. He also worked at Fox Drug Store in Selma for several years’ delivering medications to patients. One of his proudest moments was receiving a grant (as several families did in the 1970s) to build a house. Noel along with his wife and the help of friends built their first home on 3050 Jasper Street. Though he didn’t have a lot in monetary wealth, what he always had was an abundance of love to give to his family. 

Noel was a devout member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Selma, where he also served as Treasurer for the Guadalupana Society for 15 years. 

In his free time, Noel enjoyed collecting US gold and silver coins, stamps, comic books, and various antiques. He was always excited to get new items in the mail to build up his collection. He had a passion for preserving history through his collections. He loved the 1950s era and often talked about the good old times and his love for Elvis, the Kennedys, and how the $1 was strong and could buy so many things; not like today! He also enjoyed walking around downtown Selma and thrift shopping so he could display his collectibles at home. He also liked a game or two of bingo at the senior center and eating at La Estrella, Las Playas, and McCoy’s Coffee Shop. He enjoyed a cold Bud Light and McDonald’s Coffee - the simple things. Due to his cancer wounds, he was unable to travel much but when he did, he enjoyed taking the Amtrak train along with his wife Olga to visit their youngest daughter in San Francisco. At 82, Noel traveled on a plane for the first time to visit family in Texas; it was worth the wait! 

The most notable aspect of Noel’s life was his 30-year battle with cancer due to a genetic cancer condition known as Lynch Syndrome diagnosed in the family in 2008. The condition increases one’s risk of numerous cancers stemming mainly from gastrointestinal and related type cancers, including uterine and ovarian cancers. In rare cases, brain and skin cancers. Due to his genetic predisposition Noel survived 12 primary cancers which included stomach cancer (which was mostly removed), colon cancer 2x, squamous cell carcinoma 2x (located in the ear), 

sebaceous cell carcinoma 6x (sweat-gland cancer), and lastly gallbladder cancer which he fought fiercely over the last 10 years and had re-occurred 4x. He was as many friends and family called him miracle man, bouncing back from cancer each time. Often folks didn’t know he was on treatment for cancer. In 2017, the miracle drug Keytruda was approved and saved his life; having him with us for just a bit longer. Yet, the drug stopped working two years ago, and thus his slow decline. Once diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, Noel was an advocate sharing his story with UCSF Medical Students and Genetic Counseling Students in San Francisco. In addition, throughout the years he shared his story with some media outlets such as the Selma Enterprise, Valley Health Magazine in Fresno, and a news segment in 2015 with KMPH journalist Liz Gonzalez about his diagnosis with gall bladder cancer. He also was part of helping declare Lynch Syndrome Awareness Day and Colon Cancer Awareness Day in Selma in 2013. He was a fighter and happy to share his story of resilience with cancer to anyone who would listen.   

Noel is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years and lifetime companion, Olga Gonzalez Martinez, his children Debra (Debbie) Coronado, Noemí Martínez Garza, Robert Noel Martinez, Noel Nazario Martinez III, Fermina Dolores Martinez, and Selena Martinez Mak, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren 

Grandchildren: Casandra Noemí Martínez Colín, Clarissa Adriana Coronado, Rio Jordan A. Coronado, Alfredo Antonio Coronado, Adriano Coronado, Ariannah Coronado, Francisco Roberto Martinez, Mattea Maya Garza, Zubin Zhongsheng Martinez Mak, and Samin Liangying Martinez Mak 

Great-Grandchildren: Andrés Nazario Colín, Manuel Ernesto Colín, Yaretzi Alesia Colín, Arley Rayne J. Coronado, Amari Jane Coronado, and Amiyah Hope Coronado 

Daughter-in-law: Y. Erica Mak 

Son-in-law: Lucas A. Garza  

Grandson-in-law: José L. Colín 

Siblings: Maria Tomasa “Tammie” Vasquez, Rodolfo “Rudy” P. Martinez, and Lupe M. Alvarado 

His two rambunctious pets Pinto and Blackie - both will miss him dearly. 

He is preceded in death by his parents: mother Fermina Posada Martinez and father Nazario Martinez Sr., Siblings: Francisco P. Martinez, Juan P. Martinez,  and Paula M. Garcia whom all succumbed to cancer, pancreatic, stomach, and colon cancer respectively. In addition, his brother who died in a tragic car accident, Roberto P. Martinez. Lastly, his son-in-law Alfredo “Freddie” Coronado. All who are enjoying a Bud Light in heaven. 

He will be profoundly missed by his family and friends who knew him to be a friendly, funny, and a positively spirited person, especially in the face of cancer. He was not afraid. When speaking with medical students at UCSF, he urged patients to go see the doctor and not to wait 

until it was too late. The family believes that this perspective coupled with his positive attitude including the love of his family in his healthcare kept him alive for as long as it did.