Silvio Osvaldo Navarro
30 October 1927 - 3 April 1967

The Computing, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering professions mourn the loss of a leader, Silvio O. Navarro. At the time of his tragic death he was the Director of the Computing Center, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science, and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. His influence was international and commensurate with his productivity and insight which were inspirations to those who knew him.

Silvio was born in Cuba where he received the Jose Marti Award as the nation's outstanding student. At the age of nineteen he entered the University of Houston where he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1951. He then attended Texas A & M where he received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1953 and 1955 respectively. He remained at Texas A & M as an instructor and later as an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Assistant Research Engineer.

This marked the beginning of a colorful, although short, career in which he blazed a trail that remains a challenge for men of greater longevity.

In 1959, Dr. Navarro came to Kentucky as an Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Assistant Director of the Computing Center. He assisted in the establishment of the University of Kentucky Computing Center. In 1960, he was named Assistant Director of the Project on Computers in Engineering Education sponsored by the Ford Foundation at the University of Michigan which has proved to be a great success and is considered a milestone in the use of computers in engineering education. Silvio was appointed Director of the University of Kentucky Computing Center in 1961.

Silvio Navarro was an outstanding lecturer and teacher of both digital and analog computer fundamentals, techniques, design, and research thereof. His work was so outstanding that his services were constantly sought by groups all over the world...

Above all else, Silvio Navarro was an extraordinarily warm and sincere human being who thoroughly knew the meaning of human dignity which was evidenced by both his approach to family, friends, and associates in his daily life, and also in his deep-rooted understanding of the true value of a democratic society...

Because of his accomplishments and our warmest personal feelings, Silvio will live in our hearts and minds forever.

From the Kentucky Register, the newsletter of the Computing Center, May 1967.