In Memory of Nic Martinek: Art Walk of Fame
Mathnasium of West Marietta Donates $500 to
The Nic Martinek Scholarship Fund for Creativity in Artz, Math and Computers
Over 40 years ago, Larry Martinek created the Mathnasium Method due to his desire to bridge the gap between students’ skill level and school curriculum. His approach included a combination of mental, visual, verbal, tactile and written exercises. With the help of his son, Nic Martinek, Larry provided a classroom experience that proved to be highly effective to students. His method of conceptual teaching benefitted students more than the standard repetition of curriculum they engaged in at school.
Sadly, in 1999, Larry’s son, Nic, passed away at age 19 in a car accident. Prior to his passing, he expressed to his dad, “You have to show other teachers how to teach math the way you do.” Nic witnessed his other friends leave high school unprepared for higher level math because they simply had not been taught math in a way that made sense to them. Larry then made it his life’s mission to teach kids of all ages the Mathnasium method: to help make math make sense. In 2002, he opened the very first Mathnasium Center in Los Angeles, California and there are now currently more than 1000 locations worldwide.
Along with being math wizard, Nic was a creative wonder. He was an amazing artist and created many paintings and drawings in his pastime. May 8, 2019, will mark the 20th anniversary of Nic’s death. We at Mathnasium of West Marietta would like to share a gallery of his work.
A Memorial
Larry Martinek’s life’s work has been to find…
A better way to teach math.
His journey included teaching
In inner—city schools
Exclusive private and parochial schools
Teaching teachers
Teaching children
And learning from all of them.
The student that Larry taught the most
And learned the most from
Was his own son, Nic
The only child
Of Lynn and Larry Martinek.
Nic Martinek
Math Wizard…Creative Wonder…Good Kid.
Just before completing
His own life’s work
Nic encouraged his father
To continue to show others
A better way to teach math.
Larry says,
“I do it, because the kid told me to.”
-by Peter Markovitz (2003)
MATHNASIUM is dedicated to the memory of
Nic Martinek [January 12, 1980—May 8, 1999].
Thank you Larry Martinek for the Mathnasium Method!
(678) 403-2088
