‘She was everything,’ family of Houston mother killed in deadly windstorm honored with barbecue fundraiser

HOUSTON – When you first look at Isaac Martinez, he seems like this stoic, intimidating giant. He stood in front of KPRC 2 digital producer Ahmed Humble, wearing a dark purple shirt in honor of his late wife, Christin Martinez, who tragically died days after her 31st birthday during a windstorm deadly, also known as a derecho, in their southeast Houston home.

Behind the Ray-Ban sunglasses, no doubt hiding his tears and grief, stood a broken man who lost more than the mother of his four sons.

They were high school sweethearts and were together for 17 years, 15 of them as husband and wife.

“We met as freshmen at Austin High School,” he said. “We were best friends for about two years and then we finally got together. Freshman year (of high school), after I asked her out for the third time, because I was like, ‘like in baseball, three strikes, you’re out.’ So I was like, “Let me ask her one more time, and (if) she says, no then, OK, I’ll leave her alone.” And I guess it was by chance that she said yes to me, and from then on we were together for about 15 years.

For someone like Isaac, who spent literally half his life with Christin, it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite memory he shared with her. But the first thing that came to mind was when the couple realized they were pregnant with their first son.

“Finding out that her and I are going to be a family and realizing that we’re going to be in this for the long haul,” Isaac said. “I couldn’t (have been) happier. And then from there, all the happy memories are just with me and her with the boys.

Fast forward to May 16, 2024, Christin and Isaac were on their fourth son, who had just turned 1 when the skies darkened and a deadly windstorm hit the Greater Houston area.

“We were laying around, watching a movie together, and then that’s when lightning struck, and everything shook and the power went out,” Isaac said. “She said to me, ‘Look, a branch almost fell and hit your brother’s car.'”

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Fearing that their vehicle would be next, Christin suggested that they move their vehicle, which Isaac protested but she insisted, as at that time the rain seemed less threatening.

“As soon as she ran (sic) towards the truck, that’s when a gust of wind came. And she ran towards the truck because she thought she would be safer in the truck. And shortly after the door closed, that’s when I heard a branch snap, and I looked up to see if there was anything. And that’s when I noticed the tree starting to lean.

It didn’t take long before the tree fell on the vehicle, killing Christin inside. She was one of eight victims tragically killed during the deadly storm.

Isaac, his family and the general public gathered at Perfect Choice BBQ on Galveston Rd across from Chavez High School for a fundraiser. Profits from each plate sold at $12 each would go toward raising money for a new vehicle, the one-year-old baby Christin leaves behind and funeral expenses.

“I was really shocked when I heard about it,” said Anthony Cutaia, one of the partners at Perfect Choice BBQ. “I mean, I actually have grandchildren that are all the same age as his kids, so I took, I mean, it hit me a little bit harder.”

“We actually know the children’s grandfather personally,” he added. “So when they asked us to use the place, we said, let’s go ahead and enjoy it.”

Christin’s youngest brother, Jonathan, was also in attendance and remembers his sister as “caring, funny, forgiving and loving.” When he heard about what happened to his sister, he told KPRC 2 digital producer Ahmed Humble he was just as shocked.

“I broke down,” Jonathan said. “At first I thought they were messing around, but after a while it all hit me and I just lost control. It hurts.”

And even though they do what they can for Isaac, their brother-in-law, it is difficult to find the right words to console someone who has lost their true life partner.

“I miss her a lot, and I don’t know. I don’t know how things will develop because I’ve done everything with her,” Isaac said. “She was my fishing buddy. She was my sous chef. She was my taster. She was everything. She was the foundation of me and my family.

The barbecue fundraiser was scheduled to run from noon to 4 p.m. or until they ran out of food. Around 4 p.m., KPRC 2 reporter Bryce Newberry said about 800 plates had been sold.

The massive turnout surprised Isaac.

“From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank everyone because she and I kept to ourselves, we were introverts,” he admitted. “We just thought it was just me or her and the boys, you know? Never in a million years. Never in our wildest dreams would we imagine that people from all over Houston, and even people from outside of Houston, would reach out and come show their love and support for my wife. And that really means a lot to me.

Part of the reason is that Christin Martinez was more than a wife, she was a daughter, a sister and, according to Isaac, an educator. Even though she is gone, her memory remains a testament to the people she had an impact on.

“She was a daycare teacher, (so) to hear how all the kids that she helped raise, you know, to hear those kids feel that way as well as the parents. It really meant a lot to me,” he concluded. “And it really opened my kids and I (sic) eyes to see how much of an impact my wife and their mother really had on Houston.”