Andrew was born in San Ignacio, Belize in 1969. He always said that his mother Julia Bermudez raised him and his five siblings like scouts. They looked out for one another and took care of their respective responsibilities. This dedication served him well throughout his life, and Andrew felt a deep love, gratitude, and respect for his mother and siblings Pamela, Alva, Elvin, Carlton, and John. The house was always filled with relatives, neighbors and friends.

Andrew thrived during his high school years at Sacred Heart College. He admired so many of his teachers, bonded with his classmates, and competed for top grades. Known as "Turbo," Andrew was the robot specialist in the Cayo breakdancing crew. He graduated in 1987 and later received a Georgetown University/USAID scholarship to study at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, California, where he lived with the Pinto family and completed an associate's degree.

Andrew met his wife-to-be Kara while she was living in his hometown and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. They were married in 2003 and made their home in Aurora, Colorado. Andrew completed his bachelor's degree in information technology online through Baker College. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and truly lived the American dream.

Andrew found his ultimate work home at SRS Acquiom where he worked for five and a half years as a senior software engineer. He deeply admired the company's leadership and thought the world of his teammates and colleagues. Previous employers of special note include: Central Bank of Belize, Associated Content/Yahoo!, Ewise/PayWithMyBank, and Delivery Agent.

Andrew's favorite activity was cheering on Arsenal in the Premier League. He was an avid weightlifter, reader, movie watcher, puzzle and Wordle enthusiast, and happy hour regular at his favorite spots. Andrew and Kara traveled to Switzerland, Netherlands, and Belgium to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. They returned to Belize in November 2024 to spend two precious weeks together among friends and family in San Ignacio, where life and love began.

To know Andrew was to be blessed by his unforgettable charisma, generosity, inquisitiveness, wisdom, and sense of humor. He inspired others to be their best selves. His smile and laughter were unforgettable. Andrew the Lionheart Martinez was a true Renaissance man, the resident Belizean diplomat wherever he went, a one-of-a-kind spirit who loved life and so many people in this world, as so many of us loved him.

Andrew's education proved foundational to his life and success. He and Kara support Full Basket Belize, a nonprofit that awards needs- and achievement-based student scholarships and provides community grants. If you wish to contribute to Andrew's Memorial, please donate in his honor at: www.fullbasketbelize.org (Please write "In Memory of Andrew Martinez" in the message section.) You can also donate via the Full Basket Belize Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/FullBasketBelize/

A celebration of Andrew's life is being planned for a later date. Please check back soon for Andrew's Celebration of Life details.