It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gladys Maria Flores Venegas, a devoted mother, proud Nana, beloved educator, and fierce advocate whose life was defined by resilience, compassion, and joy.
Gladys was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1949. As a young woman, she embarked on a journey that would shape the rest of her life when she boarded El Vuelo Kikiriki, the famous American Airlines flight that brought thousands of Puerto Ricans to New York in search of opportunity. Armed with little more than hope and determination, she arrived believing the promise of a better life.
Her introduction to New York was anything but easy. The friend who welcomed her at the airport explained that they would have to climb through the apartment window because she had just been evicted. Rather than discouraging her, that moment became the first chapter in a life marked by perseverance. Gladys faced every obstacle with courage, grit, and the determination to keep moving forward. She often reminded those she loved, “Don’t let anyone fool you. You can only see faces—you never see people’s hearts.”
She dedicated her career to teaching in Spanish Harlem, where she welcomed newly arrived immigrant students with the understanding and empathy of someone who had once stood in their shoes. To her students, she was far more than a teacher. She was a mentor, protector, advocate, and source of hope. Whether helping families navigate a new country or quietly connecting vulnerable young people with safe places like Covenant House, Gladys believed every child deserved to feel seen, valued, safe, and loved.
Gladys was deeply proud of her Puerto Rican heritage. She often shared stories of activism on the island and proudly reminded her family that her father, Juan Evangelista Venegas, became Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medalist when he won the bronze medal in boxing at the 1948 Olympic Games. “We are fighters,” she would say—and she lived those words every day.
While her work touched countless lives, her greatest joy came from her family. She was a devoted mother and an adoring Nana to her granddaughters, Kayla and Kali. Whenever Nana arrived, the house came alive with music, dancing, laughter, games, and endless imagination. Even into her seventies, she could still be found singing, dancing around the living room, and reminding everyone that happiness is a choice.
Gladys leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, generosity, and joy. She taught those around her to stand up for others, to meet life’s challenges with courage, and to choose kindness whenever possible.
She will be deeply missed by her loving family, friends, former students, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Though our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing that her spirit lives on in every act of compassion, every story shared, every dance in the kitchen, and every moment we choose joy.
Que en paz descanses, Gladys Maria Flores Venegas. Your love will remain with us always.
