CHICAGO (WGN) — Former classmates, teachers and the principal of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in West Lawn shared memories of fallen Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez Wednesday that span back decades, offering a moment of comfort in shared laughter — a characteristic common of Martinez before he was fatally shot and killed on the job earlier this week.
“He’s the most hilarious person I’ve ever known in my entire life,” said Marisa Galvan, a former classmate of Martinez. “We were always laughing.”
“When you’re around him, you know the Holy Spirit was right in there with Enrique,” said Dr. Mariagnes Menden, Principal at St. Nicholas. “He was enjoying the time, bringing forth the good in everyone.”
Martinez was a part of the Class of 2012 at St. Nicholas, where a number of his classmates knew him since kindergarten, where they grew up together, forming bonds they said lasted a lifetime.
“We got the chance to read together,” said Leisly Estrada, another one of Martinez’s classmates. “Read, [we] learned how to write, we learned everything together, basically.”