Cynthia Navarro

Cynthia (Cindy) Navarro, formerly Cynthia Harvey, Cynthia Livesay, and Cynthia Brown, passed away April 26, 2025, at the age of 79. She was an extraordinary, creative person, a fearless firecracker, a loving mother to her own children and the children she taught. Though no great follower of rules, she was a devoted follower of Jesus who took seriously the commandment to love one's neighbor as one's self. She is survived by her daughter Heather Gravois, born of her first marriage to Thomas Livesay, and her son Alex Navarro, her grandchildren Jude, Zoe and Colette Gravois, and her sister Terrill (Terri) Boccella. Born October 21 1945, to Edward Harvey and Marie Harvey, née Navarro, in Santa Barbara, California, Cindy grew up in San Antonio, Texas, attended St. Peters Prince of the Apostles School, and graduated from Alamo Heights High School in 1963. She graduated Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1968 and moved to Austin. Always curious, she continued post-graduate studies at St. Edward’s University and the University of Texas in an eclectic variety of disciplines, from gerontology to electronic music. Never one who could sit still for long, Cindy loved dance. She studied ballet and modern dance for many years, performed with various companies in Austin, and was a founding member of Elbow Room Dance company. She designed a unique musical instrument - the tambolin - designed to be played and danced simultaneously. Later in life, she was an avid Zumba dancer, a fixture at the Northwest, Cedar Park and TownLake YMCAs. Cindy flourished professionally as a teacher, and had a gift for reaching students with extra challenges. She taught at the Texas School for the Deaf, taught dance to handicapped children for the City of Austin, and particularly shined as a middle school teacher of special education. Though a small woman, she was undaunted by students bigger than her, and loved these students with a fierceness. From 1995 to 2005, she lived in Lockhart and taught at Smithville Junior High. Returning to Austin, she taught at Dobie Middle School from 2007 until she retired in 2013. Even after retirement, she continued to work as a substitute at Dobie and Northeast Early College High School, so that she could stay in touch with “my Dobie kids,” as she called them. Cindy had the true spark: an ability to be and to act in the moment, to know her own truth, and to practice a love that transcended rules or dogma. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at the Smith Family Chapel at Riverbend Church, Saturday, June 28, at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in her memory be made to Hospice Austin’s Christopher House.

Cynthia Navarro

October 21, 1945 - April 26, 2025