Irma R. Navarrete

1927 - 2018

Irma Rodríguez Condis was born May 7, 1927 in Havana, Cuba. As a girl she attended a British school, becoming fluent in English, and devoted many hours to the piano, but then studied architecture at the University of Havana, where she met her husband Ignacio Navarrete. They were married in 1952 and had two sons, Ignacio and Enrique.

In 1960 she left Cuba with her family and moved to New York, residing first on Staten Island and later in Manhattan. Son Enrique’s drowning in 1964 was a tragedy from which the family never quite recovered, but they enjoyed traveling, spending time with relatives and friends, and taking advantage of the cultural resources of the great metropolis. After retirement in 1986, they moved to Coral Gables FL before relocating to Oakland, to be closer to their son and grandchildren. Husband Ignacio passed away in 2003. Irma volunteered as a docent at the Oakland Museum, before her health worsened. She suffered a long, slow decline, but her final passing was quick and gentle, on September 3, 2018.

Irma loved her architectural profession, even when it was difficult for women to gain full responsibility and credit for their work. She designed a convent and chapel in Newburgh NY, and later worked for the Port Authority on the planning and design of Newark Airport and of the World Trade Center. Ultimately she became more of a planner, overseeing airport renovations and proposals for large economic development projects. Her favorite was for hydroponic farms in the burned-out areas of the South Bronx.

Irma was elegant and fashionable, and remained bilingual to the end. She is survived by son Ignacio Navarrete, daughter-inlaw Hester Bradbury, and grandsons Andy and Paul Navarrete. Also by friends and extended family in New York, Miami, and California. A funeral mass will be held at St. Theresa’s in Oakland on October 6th, at 10:30 a.m.