Dr. Lisa Maria Martinez

MARTINEZ, Dr. Lisa Maria, a woman of remarkable strength, compassion, and intellect, passed away at the age of 57 after a courageous 3 ½ year battle with liver cancer, on July 20, 2024 at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan. She leaves behind an impression that will forever echo in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. Cremation has taken place and a memorial visitation will be held from 12 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, August 2, 2024 at the Sharp Funeral Homes - Fenton Chapel, located at 1000 Silver Lake Road, Fenton, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Lisa to either the Genesee County Humane Society (www.geneseehumane.org) or Planned Parenthood (www.plannedparenthood.org). 

Lisa was born on July 4, 1967 in Wrightstown, NJ to Eric Paul and Anita (Galabiz) Martinez. Lisa was born and raised into a proud military family and was an ROTC graduate. Lisa received her Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University in biology and genetics with a minor in psychology; a Master’s Degree from Wayne State University for Medical Science specializing in public healthcare; and a Doctor of Osteopathy Degree from Michigan State University, specializing her residency in Osteopathic Manipulation. Lisa’s interest in medicine began at an early age after meeting an incredible female doctor when she was a child. Kids in her elementary school would call her “Doc” because she was constantly fixing their wounds. From there, her passion for medicine only grew. She began working in one of the medical laboratories at the University of Arizona while a senior in high school. To broaden her background, she continued working in various biology labs at the University of Arizona while in college.

Lisa was a saver of lives, having resuscitated several people in her life. Even on the day of one of her chemo treatments, while being extremely exhausted, she jumped up and saved an elderly man’s life who was choking by gently patting his back until he was able to spit up the food he was choking on - her arm hurt for weeks after. Lisa was also extremely observant, which made her a great doctor. She identified aggressive skin cancer on a patient just in time to stop the spread based on only a very slight change in one of his moles.

Lisa loved her chosen specialty of Osteopathic Manipulation. Her incredible tactile sense of touch enabled her to detect the slightest discrepancy in someone’s body. She was proud of the fact that she could fix people that other doctors could not. She helped many patients avoid surgery, shots, or worse. Many patients (including other doctors) came into her office barely able to walk, or with severe headaches or joint pains, and they walked out cured able to return to normal living. She was able to manipulate babies with her hands on a woman's stomach while the baby was within the womb to get them into the correct orientation for birthing. Lisa was so adept at what she did, that she was even able to cure cats, dogs, and horses. For example, there was a horse that would not allow people to approach it due to a severe cranial dysfunction it acquired from hitting a large branch with its head while playfully bucking under a tree. Even the veterinarian could not approach the horse without getting bit. After Lisa fixed the horse, he was so ecstatic that he loudly whinnied his appreciation and kept licking Lisa. He followed Lisa’s car as she drove off whinnying the whole way. No longer plagued with this pain and sensitivity to being touched near its head, he was able to reclaim his normal approachable playful self.

Lisa was a leader. She was a Drill Instructor in ROTC due to her natural leadership attributes. She was also a Unit Leader for Girl Scouts with Camp Whispering Pines at Mount Lemmon outside Tucson. In this position she had multiple Girl Scout Counselors reporting to her. She was a favorite among the Girl Scouts due to her compassion, consistency, mentorship, creativity, playfulness, and leadership.

Lisa was a great athlete. With her incredibly quick reactions, dexterity, and strategic thinking, she was good at almost any sport that she played. She was the Arizona State Champion in swimming while in high school, and initially was on the University of Arizona swim team until her academics and her work in the medical labs became too time-consuming. 

Lisa loved music. She would play songs over and over so that she could memorize the lyrics, melody, tempo, etc. until it would drive her family crazy, and they would beg her to stop. She loved singing and was in the choir at church. She learned violin by the Suzuki method at age 7 while the family was stationed in Japan. She became an accomplished violinist, becoming the 1st chair of the Tucson Junior Orchestra while in high school. While also in high school, she organized a string quartet to play for free at senior living homes for their enjoyment and entertainment.

Lisa loved to cook and was a great cook. She had many tasty creations that she used to publish to the family in a yearly calendar with a different recipe for each month. She also loved languages, learning Spanish, French, German, and Sign Language so that she could communicate with her Spanish, French, German and deaf friends. This turned out to be helpful when she was a Resident at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx due to the large number of immigrant patients, and a deaf patient she had that no one knew how to communicate with.

Lisa had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Combining this with her quick wit, her love of people, and her openness, she was great to be around, and people were naturally attracted to her company.

Lisa was also a brave protector against bullies, protecting both her younger siblings and even strangers against intimidation and aggression. She was an animal lover, with a special place in her heart for dogs. She was a prolific reader, and a wonderful storyteller. Lisa will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Randy Alder, whom she met at the University of Arizona in intermediate swim class. Lisa and Randy had been together for 40 years and happily married for 35 years since 1989. They were very close and were each other’s best friends. Spending many fun times daily and while on vacations together. Their partnership, founded on mutual respect and deep affection, exemplified the beauty of a loving and supportive marriage, and embraced the core values of companionship and unity. His unwavering support and love were a source of strength and comfort throughout her battle with cancer.

Additionally, she is survived by her adoring family, including her Parents, Eric and Anita Martinez of Tucson, AZ. Siblings, Eric (Tina) Martinez; Paul Martinez; Tommie Ann (Robert) Cantu; all of Tucson, AZ. Mother-in-law, Yvonne S. Alder of Tucson, AZ. Their unwavering love, encouragement, and presence provided her with strength and inspiration, shaping her into the remarkable individual she was. Lisa is also survived by her nieces and nephews, who she adored as if they were her own "kids", in addition to several cousins and countless friends. Lisa was also preceded  in death by her fur babies, K2 and Phoebe. The bonds of family, woven with love and shared experiences, stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of love, compassion, and a profound commitment to healing and well-being.

Online condolences may be shared on Lisa's obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com