Long-time Ashtabula High School band director Hector Martinez died on Dec. 17, but his impact on the lives of the people he taught and knew will continue to be felt for decades.
Martinez was born in Laredo, Texas in 1927, and after graduating high school, served in the Army Air Corps and Air Force.Â
Martinez moved to Ashtabula in 1970 and became the AHS band director, said Diana Perry, Martinezâs daughter. She said his love of music was non-stop.
The family would eat dinner together every night, and Martinez would tell stories.
âEvery dinner, we never ate dinner without each other, we heard a story,â Perry said.