Félix Mario Valbuena Báez

Félix Mario Valbuena Báez

Age 84, of Northville, passed away surrounded by his loving family on May 23, 2022. He was born on September 21, 1937 in Güican, Boyacá, Colombia; son of Benjamín and Rosalbina (Baez) Valbuena. Félix was united in marriage to Amparo Gómez on June 11, 1966; lovingly devoted to each other for over 55 years.

Félix grew up on a farm in the mountains of Güican, Boyacá, Colombia; one of 10 children. He commuted to elementary school on horseback. His favorite memory from childhood was accompanying his father on 4-day trips to his more distant farms, to tend to the sheep and horses. At 13 he began seminary school in San José de Miranda. After 5 years of study, he taught for 3 years. In 1958, he decided to pursue a new career path, moved to Bogotá, and earned a Bachelors in Sociology from Universidad Javeriana. While attending university he founded a program for international studies which lead him to travel to the United States often. During his first few trips to the US in the early 1960s, he enjoyed the privilege of working and studying with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Mead, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. He subsequently earned his Masters in Social Work and his PhD in Education Administration from the University of Illinois. After teaching at the university level in Colombia, he and his growing family moved back to the United States to stay.

Félix began a prestigious career at Detroit Public Schools as the Director of Bilingual Education in 1974; he retired in 2002. He worked tirelessly with local and national educators and policy makers, to ensure that multiculturally sensitive bilingual education and dual-language programs became available to as many students as possible throughout the 1980 and 90s. He ensured that computers became an integral part of the classroom. Félix helped over 200 students apply for grants to continue their education and receive teaching certificates with bilingual endorsements. He had a knack for encouraging students, his own children, everyone really, to be the best versions of themselves.

In his retirement, he became a contractor. He built dozens of beautiful homes, but his genuine personality and ability to connect with people set him apart in the field. In the last 4 years, he built 12 homes.

Félix was an avid reader and always ready for good conversation and healthy debate. He was a three-time world traveler, visiting 60 countries throughout his lifetime. Félix loved music and dancing and sharing both with his family. He volunteered countless hours supporting the community in and around Detroit, always ready to provide assistance and offer encouragement.

Félix adored his grandchildren and enjoyed watching them grow and their minds flourish. He was a very generous, loving, and patient husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He loved his life. In the days before he passed, he said he was grateful to have lived a triumphant life. He will be greatly missed by many.

Félix is survived by his wife Amparo Gómez Valbuena; his children, Félix Mario (Claudia Bello-Valbuena) Valbuena Jr., Juan Pablo (Corre Spence) Valbuena, Andrés Felipe (Jennifer) Valbuena, and Margarita María Valbuena; his siblings, Ramón (Marina) Valbuena, Benjamín (Maribel) Valbuena, Rosa María Forero, Justo Pastor Valbuena, María Ignacia Valbuena, and Anacilia Valbuena; and his grandchildren, Nicolás David Valbuena, Sofía Isabela Valbuena, Jesse Edward Ferguson, Jack Evan Ferguson, Olivia Nicole Valbuena, Victoria Noemí Berg Valbuena, and Benjamín Ignacio Berg Valbuena. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Lucinda Antonlinez, María Eugenia Valbuena, and Casimiro Valbuena.

A private funeral mass will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated to the Bladder Cancer Research Fund at University of Michigan Medicine https://victors.us/felixvalbuena