Obituary of David Martinidez
David Martinidez passed away on January 19, 2021. He was 49 years old.
Born in Queens, NY, Dave grew up in Yonkers and Holmes, NY with his parents, George and Anne (Fadoul) Martinidez. He attended and graduated from both Manhattanville College with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and New York University with a Master’s in Counseling and Guidance. He lived between Manhattan, Park Slope and Forest Hills, NY for twenty years before moving to Jersey City and finally settling in Chatham, NJ, with his husband in 2016. He served as the Associate Dean, Dean of Admissions for the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in New York City. Dave held administrative posts at Columbia Law School and New York University earlier in his career.
In 2019 Dave was recognized and awarded the Monrad Paulsen Award, named in memory of Cardozo’s founding Dean, which recognizes an individual, usually a member of the Cardozo faculty or administration, who has provided devoted service to the continued vitality of the ideals and purposes of legal education. Dave was an avid street photographer who was published in the 2006 inaugural issue of unboundpress: an international journal of words and images (Unbound Press/Highland Dreams).
Dave had an incredible sense of humor, read voraciously (especially Stephen King and Harry Potter), was wild about the theater, loved to dance, and absolutely adored Stevie Nicks. He had a soft spot for animals and doted on his beloved cats, Kittie and Luckie. He couldn’t get enough of swimming in the ocean and time spent at Jones Beach. For many years, Dave ran competitively with New York Road Runners.
Dave is survived by his loving husband of six years, Robert Hymas, his mother Anne Martinidez, his cousins Diane Novinger and Rebecca Scales, his in-laws Paul and Eileen Hymas, brother-in-law Andrew Hymas, his faithful feline friend Luckie, and many friends and colleagues who will miss him dearly.
A small funeral service will be held for immediate family at this time. A larger Celebration of Life memorial service will be held when it is safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Dave’s memory to one of the following charities:
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter
194 West NJ Route 10
East Hanover, NJ 07936
(973) 386-0590
House of the Good Shepherd
798 Willow Grove Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
(908) 684-5900
The Ali Forney Center
224 West 35th Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 222-3427
