Obituaries

Beltran Navarro, a leading Latino figure in the State of Maryland and the D.C. corridor, died of a heart attack in Paris, France on Saturday, May 24th. He was traveling on business with his wife of 24 years, Dr. Young-Mi Kim, a senior research officer at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.

The 57 year old Baltimore City resident, formerly a Venezuelan citizen, came to Baltimore in 1951. While at Sts. Philip and James School, he became friends with Michael Flannery and adopted the Flannery family as his own. "Bert was a brother to my sisters and me. Our family was only whole when he was there. My mom was Bert’s godmother and Bert was my daughter’s godfather, so he will always be with us", Michael Flannery said.

He completed undergraduate studies at Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and two Masters Degrees from the University of Indiana, Bloomington in Biological Chemistry and International, Developmental and Comparitive Education. He received advanced training in management at Instituto de Estudios Superiores en Administracion at Indiana University, School of Business in Caracas, Venezuela and several graduate certificates in public and project administration.

An extremely persuasive and prolific public speaker and writer, he had given hundreds of speeches in the region and wrote for several news media. His professional and social interactions with many different ethnic communities provided him the opportunity to serve as a powerful liaison in coalition building among diverse populations. "Everyone knew and respected him. He was the link that brought many people of different backgrounds together and the catalyst that sparked a passion for collaboration and partnership. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss and a good friend," said Carmen Nieves, Executive Director of Centro de la Comunidad in Baltimore.

Navarro had a highly successful career in top executive positions in educational institutions in Venezuela. His managerial philosophy of making colleges more responsive to the needs of the private business and industrial sectors brought him considerable acclaim. For his performance in these posts, he received in 1982 the Orden 27 de Junio Award from the President of Venezuela.

Navarro returned to Baltimore, which he considered his home town, in 1989 and became a U.S. citizen in 2001. Since his return, he immersed himself in local community and political organizations, hoping to help build a better Baltimore. He served as member and later chaired the Mayor’s Committee on Hispanic Affairs in Baltimore City. Carolyn Krysiak, Maryland State delegate remembers, "I considered him a dear friend who provided me a view of the Latino community that was compassionate, knowledgeable, and well-thought out." He was appointed to several city, state, and private entity commissions and often testified at legislative hearings both locally and state-wide. He was on Senator Barbara Mikulski’s selection committee which reviews applicants for the armed forces academies.

Navarro was a well known downtown Baltimore personality and fixture at local festivals and parades. He received many awards for his work in the community, such as the Johns Hopkins University "Martin Luther King, Jr." Award (1993), the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs Annual Award (1996) and several city citations.

Most recently, he ran on State Senator Verna Jones’s slate for Democratic state central committee. He believed in Latino participation at all levels of government, emphasizing civic participation as a right, a duty and a priviledge. Mary Pat Clark, former president of Baltimore City Council, said of Beltran Navarro, "he was a pioneer who really paved the way for the growing influence of the Hispanic community in our city." Hector Torres, chair of the City Council President’s Hispanic Advisory Committee, said "There are very few leaders in the Hispanic community whose opinion I valued more than Beltran’s. He was the conscience of the community."

He was a principal in Navarro, Kim and Associates which offered consultancy in social policy, administration and evaluation and in business administration. In this capacity, he worked for the Pan American Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Maryland Office for New Americans, the Maryland International Division, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Health System and Energy Conservation Management, among others.

Beltran Navarro was an active member of the Engineering Society, the Indiana University Alumni Association, the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic/Latino Direct Service Providers Network, the Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice, the United Democratic Club of the 26th Ward, and the Mt. Vernon Democratic Club. He was the founder of VEAMOS, the Venezuelan American Association of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Young Mi Kim, Mr. Navarro is survived by his godmother Elizabeth Trapnell, his brother, Michael Flannery, and sisters Colise Medved, Agnes Flannery, and Marilla Coryell, and many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends.

There will be a viewing for Beltran Navarro at

Kaczorowski Funeral Home
1201 Dundalk Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21222
Tel: 410-633-0000

Please call for dates and times

A brief service will be held on Tuesday, June 3 beginning at 10 am at the funeral home.
Following the service will be a procession through Charles Street in Mt. Vernon and through Broadway (Spanish Town) in Southeast Baltimore, ending at Oak Lawn Cemetery located at 7225 Eastern Avenue.

Flowers may be sent directly to the funeral home.
Condolences may be mailed to his widow,
Dr. Young Mi Kim
529 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-5043

(For more information: contact Carmen Nieves at 410-675-8906 and/or Michael Flannery at 410-426-8461.)