Manuela Mariana Martinez

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Manuela Mariana Martinez (Koliacos) was born New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1937 to Manuel and Josefina Martinez. She passed away Nov. 27, 2012.

Marian graduated from Superior High school in 1957. After graduation, she moved to Tempe where she worked at Motorola.

While at Motorola, she invented a process that assisted with the launching of the Apollo for NASA. This invention earned her all-expense paid trip to Hawaii.

On April 11, 1966, she married Victor Manuel Koliacos. The Koliacos’ had two daughters, Ramona Elizabeth born in Oct. 1967 and Evangelina Marie borne in Dec. 1969. Marian and Evangelina share the same birthday.

The Koliacos’ moved to California in 1970 and lived there until 1994. As a single parent, Marian accomplished many goals in the education field, graduating from Pasadena City College in Pasadena California and California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.

Marian was a powerhouse in the Head Start Program where she assisted in the legislation that exists today nationwide. Marian made it her goal to assist at-risk youth earning her many awards including the Silver Apple Award.

In 1992, Marian and her daughters moved to Superior, Arizona where Marian continued teaching in the Pinal and Maricopa County School Districts as a substitute teacher.

Marian, ever the political activist sought justice for the underprivileged. She worked with Cesar Chavez’s group boycotting the farming industry so that immigrant workers can obtain better treatment. She also worked with Jane Fonda in an effort to gain rent control in California.

While in Arizona, she ran for Pinal County Superintendent and lost by a few votes.

Marian was a social butterflyand loved a party. She was a GREAT dancer and was not too shy in showing off her skills on the dance floor, winning many awards. She could also play a mean piano.

A true artist, Marian loved to paint, sketch, crochet, macramé, scrapbook, sew and craft.

Marian will be truly missed. She loved life and lived it her way. She was an intelligent, kind, understand and loving person.

Services were held Dec. 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with internment taking place at Fairview Cemetery. The family was assisted by Bulman-Superior Funeral Home, Superior, Arizona

Goodbye Marian, remember God Loves you and so do we!

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