Opinion: Fall River will miss Joe Martins, an educational icon
Many people do not know this, but Joe Martins, who passed away Nov. 22, was self-effacing. In fact, expressing Martins' own response to public praise, he would frequently say, “Boy oh boy oh boy.” He was happy to hear it, but stop!
Joe Martins, when running for re-election as a Fall River School Committee member, said, “I have been very instrumental in keeping our schools and school governance open to parental involvement and public scrutiny. Students learn best when parents are involved. Governance operates best when the budget is closely watched and decision making is transparent for all to witness.”
Martins would serve six full terms, 12 years, with the School Committee. Three of those terms he received the most votes in the City. Boy oh boy oh boy.
Prior to School Committee service, Martins worked tirelessly for 45 years in public education: Providence Public Schools, Newport Technical Center, and 39 years with Diman Regional Technical High School in Fall River as a teacher, principal and superintendent.
Campaigning door-to-door and school-to-school for Martins, I heard countless people say that as a school administrator, he was tough, firm, but fair and had the respect of all. A few former students said he chewed some butt, but that they deserved it. Staff who worked closely with Martins told me that when Joe retired from Diman, they cried, and that he was loved by many.
Boy oh boy oh boy.
Martins retired from the Air National Guard. He started as a private, retired as a major.
One of my greatest blessings in life has been knowing the late Beatrice and Joe Martins so well. Bea was a taskmaster, but got necessary things done. She was Chief Encourager for Joe, and Joe idolized her.
Martins was also a taskmaster for over a half-century, beginning as a farmer, working as a simple farmhand on his dad’s poultry farm in Westport. He became an educational icon. He was a son, brother, husband, father, neighbor, friend privately. In both realms he lived the Scouting Oath and Scout Law. He was not a Scout himself, but was an active advisor to Venture Scouting BSA, a program for students at Diman.
As a neighbor he gave the shirt off his back. Good friend Pierre Messier called Joe Martins one day as a rainstorm was developing and Messier had an unfinished roof exposed. Martins quickly joined Pierre on the roof and shingled it securely, just in time.
Ask family members who had him spend countless days, weeks and months rehabbing their homes. Masonry, carpentry, electrical, painting ... whatever necessary. Martins applied trades at home, taught trades at school, and advocated trades as a School Committee member.
In the education field, the spirit of Serviam — Latin for "I will serve" — empowers students to succeed in high school and become leaders who serve their families and the needs of society, through a dynamic academic program and the development of the whole person in an atmosphere of respect and responsibility. Joe Martins was the embodiment of Serviam. He positively impacted many generations. His example lives on in countless people. Boy oh boy oh boy.
Daryl Gonyon
Fall River
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Opinion: Fall River will miss Joe Martins, an educational icon
