Reynaldo Martinez, former aide to Harry Reid, honored at namesake school
Diane Martinez, wife of the late Reynaldo Martinez, laughs with her son Brandon Rytting at a tribute to her husband at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Family, friends, and community members gather at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School to honor the school's namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Diane Martinez, wife of the late Reynaldo Martinez, smiles during a tribute to her husband at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School choir sings "You Raise Me Up" at a tribute celebration to honor the school's namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Matt Rytting, son of the late Reynaldo Martinez, speaks at a tribute to his father at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Matt Rytting, son of the late Reynaldo Martinez, speaks at a tribute to his father at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Friends, family and community members gather at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School to honor its namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Taylor Madison Rytting, granddaughter of Reynaldo Martinez, tears up after speaking at the tribute to her grandfather at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Diane Martinez, wife of the late Reynaldo Martinez, speaks at a tribute to her husband at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Diane Martinez, wife of the late Reynaldo Martinez, speaks at a tribute to her husband at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Diane Martinez, wife of the late Reynaldo Martinez, speaks at a tribute to her husband at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cards drawn by students hang on the wall at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School to honor its namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Lynn Coston looks at the memorial cards on the wall at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School during a tribute ceremony to honor the school's namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Hector Aguilar sings during a performance by Mariachi Joya de Las Vegas High School at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School after a tribute ceremony to honor the school's namesake on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in North Las Vegas. Reynaldo Martinez, who passed away in March, was a long time staffer for Harry Reid, and was a dedicated advocate for the students at the school bearing his name. (Steel Brooks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
RJ FILE*** SPORTS - Rey Martinez stands in front of the Reynaldo L. Martinez Elementary School Monday, May 22, 2006, a North Las Vegas school that was named in his honor. Martinez is scheduled to be inducted into the Southern Nevada High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Wednesday. RALPH FOUNTAIN/REVIEW JOURNAL
Sports 052206: Rey Martinez. Ralph Fountain/Review Journal.
About 100 people gathered in the auditorium at Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School in North Las Vegas on Saturday to honor the life and legacy of the school’s namesake.
Reynaldo Martinez, former campaign manager and chief of staff to the late U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, died in March at 84.
Speaking at the tribute were friends and colleagues, as well as Martinez’s wife, Diane, son Matt Rytting, and granddaughter Taylor Madison Rytting, who spoke of her grandfather’s constant urging to try new things. It’s a lesson that she says convinced her, an introvert, to go onstage and speak.
Matt Rytting introduced The Reynaldo Martinez Teacher Inspiration Fund, a memorial fund to honor to Martinez’s commitment to education and the students at the schools that bear his name. The fund will support teachers at Martinez Elementary School as well as the Reynaldo Martinez Child Development Center.
“Him being a teacher and knowing what a teacher goes through really drove his actions,” said Martinez’s son Brandon Rytting. “He wanted to give everyone a chance to succeed and now he has that opportunity.”
