José C. Martínez, affectionately known as Joel to everyone who knew him, passed away peacefully in the late evening of Thursday, August 6, Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. He was 75 years old. Joel died of heart failure shortly after doing one of the things he loved most: going for a long run near the Opus Dei centre on Whitley Road.

Joel met Opus Dei when he was 22 years old, during his university years in Manila and later joined as a Numerary member. From that moment on, his life’s mission was to find God in science (Joel had cultivated a deep love for Physics from a young age) and to help many people to find a path for holiness in ordinary life. His passion for Physics led him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA, where he earned a doctorate in Theoretical Physics.

In October 1982, Joel was asked to lead the first group of laymen moving to Singapore to begin the apostolic work of Opus Dei there. He embraced this mission with characteristic joy, even though it meant declining a prestigious professorial chair in Physics at the University of the Philippines.

With Ruel Dalanguin(middle) and Javier Cuervo(right). On that day, Javier was moving from Singapore to Macau.

The early years in Singapore were a time of "holy adventure." Joel and the other pioneers faced the challenges of finding jobs, adapting to a new culture, and establishing a home that would also welcome formational activities. Years later, Joel would write about those days, recalling how they faced every obstacle with laughter and total trust in God’s Providence.

Joel had a fruitful professional career in Singapore. He served as a scientific editor at World Scientific before dedicating himself to teaching and research. His academic journey took him through Ngee Ann Polytechnic, the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and finally at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

While Joel was regarded by his peers as a "Physics genius" and was a devoted admirer of Albert Einstein, he never let his brilliance distance him from others. Every March 14, he would playfully remind everyone at home to celebrate Einstein’s birthday.

Joel on the right of the late Archbishop Gregory Yong at Ravenahl in the earlier years. 

Beyond his work in Singapore, Joel was a frequent traveller to Kuala Lumpur, where he offered spiritual direction and gave formation talks, helping to lay the foundations for the Work in Malaysia as well.

Despite his intellectual stature, Joel was most known for his simplicity.
He had a gentle, infectious smile that made everyone feel welcome. He was a man of deep friendships; whether over a quick coffee or a long lunch, he was always available to listen and offer wisdom. His friends ranged from fellow PhD researchers and professors to the students he mentored and also included the security guards and cleaners he encountered.

The impact of his kindness was perhaps best captured by one of his doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, who had treated Joel for a recurring throat tumour over the last three years:

 Despite his intellectual stature, Joel was most known for his simplicity.

"Joel was a patient whom I had the privilege of caring for over many years. He was always such a kind, humble and pleasant gentleman, and our clinic visits were often accompanied by many wonderful conversations. He was one of those patients whom you remember not only for the condition you were treating, but for the person that he was."

Joel’s funeral Mass was held on Monday, August 10, at the Church of the Holy Spirit. More than 200 people were in attendance to bid him farewell, while many others from Malaysia joined via livestream.

His Christmas presents would often be Science books.

As we remember Joel, we celebrate a pioneer who ran his race to the very end - both on the roads of Singapore and in his journey toward God.