Rolando (Pipo) Marti

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” - John 14:1-3

Rolando Marti Reyes was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, and friend. To his family, he was just known as Pipo.  He was a very loving, kind hearted and extremely generous person always willing to help anyone in need. Family was everything to him and worked hard all his life to make sure we were well taken care of. “Para lante y para arriba” (onward and upward) he always said. Along with his wife, Angela, he raised 3 strong independent ladies and taught us that hard work, loyalty and dedication was very important in your personal life as well as in your career.  He loved cooking, the ocean, fishing, traveling, watching football and baseball, especially our Houston Astros. He traveled to Cuba many times to visit and especially help his family. One of his favorite trips was to Barcelona and Lloret de Mar, Spain where his father was born

Pipo was born in Matanzas, Cuba on May 27, 1938 to Santiago and Joaquina Marti. He started his career selling fabric at age 15, then men’s clothing at 16 in our great-uncle’s clothing store where he met our mother and it was love at first sight. By age 17 he packed his bags and moved to Havana to work as a traveling salesman selling men’s clothing to various retailers in cities all across Cuba. He and our mother were married on April 5, 1959 and they began their lives in Alacranes. After Castro’s regime took over, he had to get creative to earn a living so he started selling shakes and desserts out of a friend’s shop until May, 1967 when he packed up his wife and daughters to come to the United States. When he arrived in Houston he worked as a waiter at Looks “Sir-Loin” Inn on South Main and worked his way up to Maitre’d. He loved his job, and customers alike, which definitely showed through the numerous accolades he received for outstanding service and high standards he exemplified daily. He later went to work at the University Club in the Galleria. While there he received numerous letters of commendation from customers on his excellent service.  He would cook specialty dishes and desserts tableside and was often sought out to cater their private parties. He then went to work for Mark’s Supper Club where he had a nice customer following. In 1978, Pipo started his own jewelry business, Marti’s Jewelry, as well as catering private parties for long time clients.

Pipo was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Joseito Marti, Santi Marti; sister Christina Marti.

Pipo is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Angela Nerice Marti (Mima); daughters Maria Elena Marti, Damaris Marti and Alice Marti; grandchildren Christina Damaris Carrillo and husband Shelton McGlory, Carl Rolando Carrillo, Roy Christopher Carrillo and fiance Kassie Moronko, Steven Christopher Adcock, David Jarrett (DJ) Adcock, Giovanni Elijah Galvez, Gianni Rolando Galvez; great-grandchild Lila Damaris Marie McGlory; nepher Jose Marti Coruna and wife Maricel Martinez Medina; great-nephews Jose Alejandro Marti Martinez and Dr. Angel Ernesto Marti Martinez; niece Dr. Maris Christina Marti Coruna; sister in law Gisela Coruna Guerra