René Navarro

RENÉ M. NAVARRO

December 1, 1925 – November 4, 2020

Surrounded by his loving wife, Rouaida Nakkar-Navarro, René passed away in  Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 95 years; Cherished husband, respected father of Rocio C.Strzepek-Navarro, Paul Bernard Navarro, and grandfather of Lauren Elizabeth Strzepek.

Dearly missed by his nephews Dr. Luis A. Navarro and his wife Mirna Justiniano Navarro, Dr. Gonzalo A. Navarro and his wife Elizabeth Broch Navarro, niece Stella Navarro Navarro and her husband David Navarro-Diaz, niece Ingrid Osorio Navarro and her husband Nataniel Mamani, nephew Luis M. Osorio Navarro and his wife Maria del Rosario Zegarra Navarro, and grand-nephews and nieces.

In the City of Chicago, he was an active member of the Board of the Chicago Boy Scouts of America; member of the Model Cities Full Committee of the Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunity; founder of the Hispano American Jaycees of Chicago and its permanent member; active parent in St. Gregory's Elementary School; member of the Board of Advisors of the Merit Employment Youth Motivation Committee, appointed by Mr. Richard J. Daley, Mayor of the Chicago City, to the Full Committee Of the Observation of the United States Bicentennial; nominated to the School Board of Education of Chicago; founder of the Kiwanis Club of Hispanic Americans; founder and President of American Fund for Bolivia, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. Through this organization he helped the hospitals of Bolivia by sending medical equipment, medical supplies, and medicines for 40 years, and organized medical missions in the USA for the poor in Bolivia.

He assisted individuals from Bolivia to get proper medical services in the USA, and received numerous awards nationally and internationally.

He was a dedicated benefactor from 1968 until the end of his life. He never rested until help reached the needed people whenever possible.

Lately he volunteered in Ottawa, where resided for the last few years: at the Food Bank collecting food and funds; at the Ottawa Mission serving breakfast to the homeless; at the Salvation Army distributing toys to children around Christmas.

Donations in memory of Rene may be made to St. Andrews Lodge #560 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Funeral services will be held in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Condolences, tributes and donations may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com