Johnny Martinez Jr., the longtime owner and chef of the landmark Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, died Friday. He was 88.
One local expressed his condolences:
The town’s former newspaper publisher weighed in:
According to his obituary:
At an early age Johnny became interested in cooking and made it a career that spanned over 70 years in his hometown of Santa Rosa. […]
Johnny’s claim to fame is the notable Comet II Restaurant, where he worked side by side with his beloved wife Alice until her passing in 2006. He then continued working every day up until a few days before his own passing. The Comet II has been featured in many magazines, newspapers and on TV. The legacy will continue as an honor to his memory.
One of Dad’s favorite memories was being known as the Vitamin Kid, which was depicted in the memoirs of Rudolfo Anaya’s “Bless me Ultima”. […]
Johnny has been described and will always be remembered as a Legend, an Icon, a Character, a Jokester, a Mentor and a Good Friend. To us, he’ll always be our Hero and our Daddy. Rest forever in Paradise Dad, we’ll love and miss you forever.
Gil Garduno wrote about the restaurant not long ago:
Among Santa Rosa’s storied remnants of Route 66 is the Comet II, perhaps the only building on the Mother Road still adorned in neon. The only thing that shines brighter at night is Johnny’s iridescent personality. If the edifice doesn’t look as timeworn as other vintage Route 66 structures, that’s because the original Comet–which actually predated Route 66–burned down decades ago and was rebuilt. It was founded by Johnny’s grandfather in 1927, more than a decade before the Main Street of America was commissioned.
Ironically, Johnny didn’t want to follow the family restaurant tradition so he joined the Army where he was severely wounded during the Korean War. He assumed the helm at Comet II in 1961. […] Chat him up and he may refer to himself as a “half-breed,” explaining that his mother was a full-blooded Jicarilla Apache. Because of his bloodline, he served as a member of the Jicarilla tribal council during a period of tremendous land acquisition and financial growth.
Martinez also insisted the food served at The Comet II isn’t Mexican style or Tex-Mex. He called it Northern New Mexico cuisine, with a lot of chiles.
Recitation of The Most Holy Rosary, followed by a Mass of Christian burial, will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 20 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Santa Rosa, with The Rev. Moses Nwonkwo officiating.
Interment of cremains will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, with staff from The Comet II as honorary urn bearers.
—