Ten Refugees, One Journey: Roberto Martinez

Bob Martinez (Photo: Jim Gaffey)

Born in Santiago, Cuba, in 1953, Bob Martinez’s young childhood was punctuated by Fidel Castro’s revolution. When Castro’s communist regime began indoctrinating school children, his parents decided to flee the island nation – by car, taking the Havana ferry to Key West, shortly before it was shut down.

His family prospered in Florida, and he earned a law degree from Georgetown University.

He has been both a private trial attorney and a federal prosecutor, and was co-lead counsel in the successful suit against Cuba’s government for the deaths of four men shot down by the Cuban Air Force while flying a humanitarian mission.

Martinez is an International Rescue Committee (IRC) Overseer, and a member of the IRC Board’s Security Committee.  His elder brother, Roman Martinez, also serves on the IRC Overseers.

Read more about Bob Martinez's refugee journey >> 

Meet the other distinguished refugees honored at the IRC's 2010 Freedom Award Dinner in New York:

Andrew S. Grove  l  Max Frankel  l  Jurate Kazickas  l  George Sarlo  l  Roman Martinez IV  l
Thong Nguyen  l  Trinh Doan  l  Eskinder Negash  l Alek Wek