Robert W. Navarre

Robert W. Navarre, 90, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2023 surrounded every step of the way by daughters, Veo & Jan, and son, Bob, at Avow Hospice in Naples, FL. We wish to express our deepest appreciation to the devoted nurses at Moorings Park and Avow Hospice for the love and care they gave our father. Robert (Bob) is survived by his loving brothers, William (Bill) Navarre and Richard (Dick) Navarre; his daughters Veo (the late James Martin) and Jan (Robert) Chevalier; and his son Robert (Karen). He was a loving grandfather to Brian (Clare), Kyle (David), Connor (Constance), James, and Thomas (Sé) Martin; Laura Abbruzzese (William), Lindy Edelen (Michael), and Robert Navarre III; and Isabelle Chevalier. Robert also leaves behind eleven great-grandchildren: George, Evelyn, and Adele Martin; John, Vincent, Francis, and Penelope Martin; Jack and Henry Abbruzzese; and Charlie and James Edelen.

Bob Navarre (Dad) was an extraordinary man in every aspect of life; a husband, a father, a businessman, and a man. He was born in Monroe, Michigan and lived in Michigan until he moved to Naples, Florida in 1992. He married the love of his life, our mother, Barbara, in 1953. Mother pre-deceased Dad in 2018. His love and devotion to our mother during their 65 years of marriage was both an example and an inspiration to us all. His love and devotion to the three of us and his grandchildren was perhaps the greatest gift we could have ever received from our father. When the three of us came together in the week prior to his death, he breathed a profound sigh of relief and closed his eyes with the clear implication: Lord, I am ready.

As a businessman his accomplishments were many and his leadership was greatly admired. He always credited his strong moral principles to the Catholic character and curriculum of the business school at the University of Notre Dame, which he loved dearly. Those who knew Dad understood his unwavering commitment to always doing what is right, moral, and to following both the spirit and letter of the law. In this way and many others, Dad was the greatest of teachers, imparting knowledge, justice, and unbending moral principles on those in business and at home with us, his children. We admired Dad’s devotion to serving both business associations and the local community. He gave back in significant and meaningful ways to the communities in which he lived and worked.

But to us, the things that Dad did for his work and the service he gave to the communities in which he lived, did not define who he was as a human being, a man, a husband, and a father. Yes, he had extraordinary accomplishments and we admired that. But who he was to us, and to himself, was a man of great faith, a man with unbounded love, a man with an unwavering commitment to what is right, and a man with extraordinary love and devotion to his wife and children. In this way, he has given us and many who knew him the greatest gift a man can give. Veo, Bob, and Jan.

A Private Celebration of Life Catholic Mass will be held at a future date for Navarre family members.

We kindly request donations to Avow Hospice, Naples, FL in lieu of flowers.