Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Flor “Shorty” Navarro has made a $1 million gift to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign at Youngstown State University in memory of his wife, Elba Lillian Navarro.

In recognition of his gift, the outdoor patio will be known as the Shorty and Elba Navarro Outdoor Patio, which will be located next to “The Rock” plaza.

“YSU is honored to have supporters like Shorty and Elba Navarro. Over the years, they have shown their love for our university by continually enriching the lives of countless students through their philanthropy,” said YSU President Bill Johnson. “I have personally known Shorty and Elba for many years; without question, their dedication to our university and our students is unmatched.”

Flor “Shorty” Navarro, the oldest of 11 children, was 14 years old when, in 1951, he immigrated to the United States from Puerto Rico. Upon arriving, he walked down to a gas station on Wilson Avenue and asked the owner for a job. Accepting him as a new employee, the owner wrote “Shorty” on his work uniform. The nickname has stuck ever since.

As a student at East High School at age 16, with his father as a co-signer, Navarro purchased the gas station from his boss. After attending East High School, he joined the Marine Corps. Upon his return, he began selling used cars, a job he held for 22 years until 1982, when he opened his own new car Lincoln Mercury dealership on Wick Avenue in Youngstown.

Later, he expanded his business to 11 franchises. In 2012, Navarro sold most of the dealerships, keeping his Stadium GM Superstore in Salem, which employs more than 65 people.

Elba was born April 8, 1945, in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, and relocated to the Youngstown area in the late 1940s as a child. She was a 1963 graduate of South High School and right after high school, she went to beauty school. Elba married the love of her life, Shorty Navarro, on Aug. 28, 1965, at Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Youngstown. They were married for 59 years.

Her dream was always to become a teacher. She fulfilled this dream by graduating from Youngstown State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Spanish and education. She taught for a total of 30 years in the Youngstown City School District at Roosevelt Elementary and Chaney High School.

After her retirement, she volunteered at her church and Organización Cívica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Inc. (OCCHA), among other organizations. In 2020, she was elected to the Board of the YSU Foundation and remained a board member until her death.

“The Shorty and Elba Navarro Outdoor Patio will become yet another place at Kilcawley for students to make lifelong memories,” said Scott Schulick, chair of the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign. “Whether someone is studying, hanging out with friends, or grabbing a quick bite between classes, students will be able to enjoy the outdoor setting located right by the campus core.”

In addition to their scholarship support and the Kilcawley gift, the Navarros have previously contributed towards Nunziato Veterans Resource Center at YSU, the Navarro Commons in Meshel Hall, and the newly endowed Elba Navarro Youngstown Community Music Project, which will allow students from the Dana School of Music to provide Youngstown City School students with private tutoring music lessons. Shorty and Elba are members of the Transformation Giving Society at YSU.