Javier Augustine Marin

After a difficult battle with a rare bone marrow disorder, Javier Marin passed away on July 1st, 2026 at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Javier was born on March 12th, 2011 at Mercy Gilbert Hospital to proud and loving parents Augustine Marin and Raquel Peña-Marin. Javier was a talented teenager who loved playing sports and excelled in academics.

At a very early age, Javier displayed talent for playing sports, especially tennis and basketball. At the age of 2, Javier began imitating tennis players he watched on TV. Soon after, Raquel started to teach him and later enrolled him in lessons, and at the age of 7, he started playing Junior tennis tournaments. He continued playing tennis for Santan Jr High, where he won the East Valley Conference Jr High Singles Tournament in 7th grade, helping his school win their first tennis title and banner. At Perry High School, he continued to shine with his tennis skills and earned the top spot tennis varsity player as a freshman.

In addition to tennis, he also played basketball with a club team called Feed Your Game (FYG) and for Santan Junior High School team in 8th grade. He also competed in swimming for at least two years at EVO Swim School in Gilbert. He loved sports and he made quite a few friends at both his competitive sports leagues as well as at school.

Javier excelled in academics too. He attended Bright Beginnings Elementary School in the accelerated program and then joined the Santan Jr. High Gifted Academy, where he received the Storming Award for academics in 7th and 8th grade. At Perry High School, he enrolled in Honors and AP courses and earned the Freshmen Excellence Award. His favorite subject was Mathematics.

Javier had many goals and dreams for the future. Javier had planned to Letter in Varsity all four years in tennis and graduate with academic excellence. His dreams were to attend Purdue University and major in Computer Science/Engineering. He loved to play (and fight) with his younger brother Giovanni over video games, football games, basketball games, and board games.

Javier achieved so much in just 15 years of life. He made so many connections and relationships with people that made a lasting impression. Javier’s name means “bright” and is associated with someone who is vibrant, optimistic, and energetic. Javier was all those things and his family, including his grandparents on both sides along with aunts and uncles, cousins, and close friends, felt that! Our family was so proud of him!

When diagnosed with his condition at the beginning of May, he remained brave and had optimism to overcome his battle. He fought hard and gave everything and will be greatly missed and loved! Javier is survived by his parents Augustine and Raquel, brother Giovanni, grandparents Liz Marin, Maria Julia Peña, and Alberto Peña. He is preceded in death by his grandfather Augustin Amaya Marin.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday July 9th, 2026 from 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Gilbert Memorial Park located at 2100 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, AZ 85297. There will be light snacks and refreshments provided. On Friday July 10th, 2026 a Funeral Service Mass will be held from 9:30 A.M. – 11 A.M. at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church located at 3200 S. Cooper Road, Chandler, AZ 85286.