By Rachel Phillips
Students and community members gathered outside the Fountain Valley Tutoring Club at a candlelight memorial to honor the life of Alex Martinez, who passed away Wednesday.
Martinez died after sustaining serious injuries from a car crash at the club on Monday.
The crash occurred when a 76-year-old man drove his 2011 Black Buick into the tutoring center, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department in an official statement.
Six people, including two teenagers, were injured. Martinez proved the only fatality, as all others including the driver were released with only minor injuries.
Martinez, 32, had worked at the club for many years with students from several high schools, including FVHS. He taught subjects ranging from foreign languages to math.
More than two hundred community members gathered outside the Tutoring Club in the parking lot that night. Among them were many current and past FVHS students who came out to show their support for the family and to honor Martinez’s life.
Minh Thu Le (‘14), whom Martinez tutored for over two years, described him as “the only reason I didn’t dread SAT prep.”
“He always had a smile on his face,” she said. “He was genuine with everything he said and did for us.”
The ceremony featured family members, friends, and students who took turns making short speeches to the crowd. Martinez’s sister and brother each spoke, and the evening closed when Martinez’s close friend sang “You Raise Me Up,” the song he sang when he first met Martinez at karaoke many years ago.
“I know he was every kid’s favorite tutor there,” Le said, “and he will be sincerely missed.”
