On January 2nd, 2026, Francisco Martinez went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. After over an hour of CPR, doctors were able to bring back his heartbeat. During that hour, his brain did not receive any oxygen, and he was put on life support. Over the course of 4 days, he received many tests to see if there was any improvement in his brain activity. Sadly, his situation worsened; his brain began to bleed, his body swelled up, and he wasn’t able to breathe on his own accord. After 4 days of Francisco fighting and his family and friends praying, God called up his angel to be by his side.

Francisco was loved by all that knew him and wherever he went he always made a new connection. He was a man that came from little but gave so much without ever compromising his smile and positive attitude. He never complained about what he did or didn’t have, and instead made it his mission to provide for his current family and set his future family up for success.

In his youth, Francisco loved to be physically active, and he spent a lot of time playing soccer and running. He was captain of his soccer teams: PAC Santos, Santa Clara Sporting, and Luis Valdez Leadership Academy. For those that had the honor to watch him play or play with him, they had the opportunity to see one of the most technically gifted players to grace the pitch. Not only was Francisco a stellar athlete, he was also a student-athlete with a 4.2 GPA in high school and graduating in 2024 from UC Riverside with a major in Spanish and minor in Sociology with a GPA of 3.5. During his time at UCR, Pancho made many friends in the SoCal area through soccer, working as a community service officer, and attending networking events in the region. Francisco moved back to San Jose after graduating to try and pursue a career as a California Highway Patrol Officer, but while waiting on being approved to start the academy, he worked at Home Depot and was the head soccer coach at his alma mater, Luis Valdez Leadership Academy.

Francisco brightened every room he walked into, and his presence created smiles. He was a leader on and off the pitch and serves as a role model for his family, his friends, and his community. He carried himself with poise and stoicism, never once getting angry at anyone and always looking at the positive side. He is a reminder to everyone that no matter how many obstacles life throws at you or no matter how the cards of life are dealt for you, there is always a way to come out on top without losing touch with your roots and morals.

We will all miss Francisco, but his legacy will live on. He was loved by many, and his stories and impact will continue to be told. This isn’t a goodbye, but rather a see you later because we know God is good and we will see him when it’s our time.

This GoFundMe is to cover the following expenses:

All the money will be given to his family, and their bank account is already linked, so everything will be given directly to them. If you prefer to Zelle or give a cash donation, that is also greatly appreciated. During this time, we also ask for prayers for his family and loved ones.