Martin S. Gonzalez

Martín Solórzano González, 42, passed away on Friday, January 13. He is survived by his wife, Yen Nguyen of Santa Monica, his parents Luis Villegas González and Esther Solórzano González of La Puente, his sister and brother-in-law Leticia and Lorenzo Mejia of Covina, his sister Maricela González of Covina, his brother and sister-in-law Jose Luis and Alicia González of Vacaville, his brother and sister-in-law Eddie and Lupita González of Arizona, his nieces Isabella, Adrianna, Xochitl, and Caitlin, and his nephews Daniel, Xavier and Michael.

Martín was born on November 15, 1969 in La Puente, California, and attended public school in La Puente. In high school, one of his favorite teachers, Mr. Slakey, pulled him aside one day and encouraged him to apply to Stanford University: "Stanford could use a guy like you, Martín." Mr. Slakey was absolutely right. Martín had always had an insatiable curiosity, a strong belief in the value of public service, and a love of popular culture, and at Stanford he really came into his own, working as a student researcher with noted anthropologist John Rick, spending a summer on an archeological dig in the Zuni Pueblo, and, after graduating with a double major in political science and anthropology, working for a year as the program director of Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service.

Martín then turned his sights to Hollywood, gaining admission to USC's MFA program in Film Production. For his master's thesis, Martín wrote and directed the award-winning short film La Posada. At USC, Martín also worked as a counselor for USC's public service center.

Upon finishing his MFA program in 1995, Martín began working in the film industry, serving as a production coordinator for films like Stuart Little and Eaters of the Dead and such television series as Resurrection Boulevard and Bronx County. At the same time, Martín began to write professionally, starting as a freelance journalist for the Pasadena Weekly, Estylo Magazine, Latina Magazine, American Cinematographer, and The Hollywood Reporter. Not content with only two jobs, Martín also rediscovered his love of teaching, working as a writing instructor for USC and as a lecturer in film studies at Cal State L.A.. In 2002 he wrote the feature film, "Provence 77" which was produced by one Asia's leading entertainment companies. The film broke box office records throughout Asia in 2003.

In 1998, Martín met Yen Nguyen at the wedding of some mutual friends, and after pursuing her relentlessly and then dating her for six years, married her in 2004 and convinced her to join him in Los Angeles. During their courtship, Martin was hire as a features writer and food editor at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in West Covina. In 2005 he was promoted to assistant features editor and handled food and entertainment for the Tribune until his departure in 2007.

Martín returned to his first intellectual passion, screenwriting. He was working on several projects at the time of his passing.

With a keen wit, fierce intelligence, and a great love for life, Martín was a man of many passions, including Woody Allen movies, fish tacos, teaching, Vietnamese culture, chocolate longjohn donuts from The Donut Hole, travel, late-night conversations, and his beloved niece Isabella. He loved his friends and his family dearly, but not as much as they loved him back. Martín was a Renaissance man, and a true original. We will miss his heart, spirit, creativity, and loyalty with all our being.

A visitation will be held from 4:30pm-7:30pm on Sunday, January 22, at Custer Christiansen Mortuary, 124 S Citrus Ave, Covina, CA 91723.

The funeral service will be held at 10am on Monday, January 23, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 550 North Glendora Avenue, La Puente, CA 91744.