Rosita Navarro Martinez

Rosita Navarro Martinez died at home after a lengthy illness, on Sunday, February 18, 2024, surrounded by her family. Rosita was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States in 1960 with her husband and three young children. Living originally in Winter Garden Florida, the family moved to Lakeland in 1971.

In the 1960’s, Rosita taught Spanish on Educational Television in Orange County as “Señorita Rosita”, visiting county schools in addition to writing and starring in the televised lessons. She went on to be part of the original faculty of Valencia College (then Valencia Community College) and went from teaching faculty to area chair to department chair to division chair before her retirement in 2003. She went on to teach at Florida Southern College until her second retirement in 2017.

Rosita was a fixture in the three-year-old Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church of Lakeland for decades, and in later years a member of the Vanguard Sunday School class.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Jose R. Martinez, and her son, Dr. Jose S. Martinez (Pepe), her parents, Manuel Navarro and Luisa Hernandez-Navarro, brother Jose Manuel Navarro, and other extended family. She is survived by her daughters, Dr. Maria (Charilyn) Martinez (Jacksonville), Nena Martinez (Tallahassee) and daughter-in-love Jill Martinez (Asbill), and her grandchildren: Kathryn Pobjecky, Teresa Weaver (Pobjecky), Carolina Ramos, Mary Anne Martinez, Robin Martinez, and Jonathan Martinez

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, at First United Methodist Church, Lakeland, in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Children’s Clothes Closet ℅ First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801 or to the Rosita N. Martinez Scholarship at Valencia College. Donations can be made online at https://valencia.org/donate/ or by sending a check made payable to Valencia College Foundation to Valencia College Foundation, PO Box 3028, MC: DO-41, Orlando, FL 32802. Please indicate your donation is in memory of Rosita N. Martinez.