Martha Rodriguez

Noted bay area visual artist, Martha Rodriguez passed away surrounded by family and friends on July 5th after a six year heroic battle with leukemia. She was painting until the end. She is survived by her mother, Helen Rodriguez of San Jose, her husband, Gary Fusco, her son and daughter, Mario RodriguezFusco and Gabrielle Fusco, her daughter-in-law Adela Reina Fusco, two grandchildren Mario Leonardo and Isabelle, all of San Francisco; her sister Diane Rodriguez and brother-in-law Jose Delgado of Los Angeles, sister-in-law Ann Jones and Kevin Jones of Northridge and brother-in-law William Fusco and Cathleen Fusco of Petaluma, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, long time friends and followers.

Raised in San Jose, CA, she graduated from San Jose High School and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she was elected to the student council. Martha graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare. Martha’s first job in public health was as a field researcher in the San Francisco gay culture of the late 70’s. Martha had joined a team of health professionals who found themselves on the front lines of the HIV epidemic.

In 1984, marriage and a career change found Martha working with innovative clothes and jewelry designers. She established an extensive client base of stores from Carmel to Mendocino for her designers and artisans.

The birth of her children in the late 80’s sparked her own creativity designing jewelry, mixed-media collages, as well as Day of the Dead altars. Martha began painting voluptuous women and iconic Mexican imagery from Frida Kahlo to movie stars to dancing skeletons. Self described as an “urban folk artist” her work is vivid, bold and filled with humor.

Martha’s studio was in her beloved Mission District and she was active in www. missonartistsunited.org and Mission Open Studios. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout California.

She will be remembered for her generous smile, fierce love and a warrior spirit that she received from her beloved father, Jake Rodriguez.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 24 in the Mission.

To RSVP or send flowers: marthaslifecelebration@gmail.com