He drives a green John Deer gator around the campus. He cheers loudly at all the football and volleyball games. He shares a smile with everyone he passes. This is Martin Adame, who has been one of Laguna Blanca’s multi-talented groundskeepers for seven years.
As a groundskeeper, Martin maintains the condition of the playing fields and the landscaped property on the Lower and Upper School campuses.
“The fields have to be ready to play on,” he said, with a smile.
Born in Mexico, Martin moved to Santa Barbara when he was five years old.
“I have basically lived in California all my life, and I love it.”
Martin began his job as a groundskeeper when Doug Jessup was the school’s head of school.
“The best part about being groundskeeper is interacting with kids and being outdoors. I’m friends with everyone,” he laughed.
As a groundskeeper, Martin is outside all day. But he does not seem to mind difficult tasks and unpredictable weather conditions that accompany working with nature.
“Working with the Earth, working with the soil, it’s my passion. Being in Santa Barbara with the great weather is nice, too!”
When asked what the hardest time of the year was to work in, Martin said, “The summer, because everything is growing. But the winter is also really hard because it’s so cold!”
Martin has nurtured a special relationship with each and every student at Laguna.
“I remember when Martin coached my Middle-School soccer team,” sophomore Chandler Aubrey said. “I’ve never felt that good of a connection with a coach before.”
“Martin keeps the fields extremely nice,” Quentin Tedesco senior Football Captain said, “and he cheers the loudest at all of our games.”
Faculty value Martin as much as the students.
“He’s one of the kindest people I know and his enthusiasm for our school is truly appreciated,” Mr. Blake Dorfman, alumnus, coach and librarian said. “His skills at keeping the school beautiful are unmatched.”
Martin, a huge sports fan, loves to come to as many home games as possible.
“I like every sport that is played at Laguna, but if I had to choose one, it would be volleyball.”
Sophomore varsity volleyball player Danielle Abrams said that Martin is “one hundred percent devoted to our school. He puts in a huge effort to come to all of our games. Every time I see him, he says, ‘Hi!’”
When asked what the best part about working at Laguna was, Martin wholeheartedly said: “Seeing the kids grow up. I love to see them go from Middle School to graduating senior year. That’s the great experience I’m having now.”