Jessica Cecilia Cardenas-Navia

Jessica Cecilia Cárdenas-Navia died peacefully on May 14, 2021 in Maryland after a long illness. Cecilia was born on December 28, 1982 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. Cecilia was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She is survived by her parents, Nelly E. Navia Arandia and Jaime F. Cárdenas García; her three siblings, J. Fernando Cárdenas-Navia, Jaime F. Cárdenas-Navia, and L. Isabel Cárdenas-Navia; and five nieces and nephews. Cecilia was academically gifted, intellectually curious, and a world traveler. She was the valedictorian of her high school in Lubbock, Texas, graduating with a perfect GPA. During her time at Yale, as a member of Davenport College, she gained a passion for history, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in the History of Science and Medicine and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration with Distinction in 2005. She went on to study at the University of Cambridge, England, earning a Master of Philosophy in the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science, Medicine, and Technology at Darwin College in 2007. She returned to Yale to enroll in the History of Science and Medicine doctoral program, earning her Master of Arts and Master of Philosophy degrees, and becoming a PhD candidate. Cecilia also had many other interests. She was fluent in Spanish and French and took every opportunity to travel to new places. Cecilia loved being physically active—she played tennis, enjoyed swimming, running, and hiking, and would relax with yoga. Cecilia also enjoyed playing piano, doing puzzles, oil painting, sketching, and shopping. Other favorite activities included spending time with friends, sharing meals, watching movies, and chatting. She was known for her kind and generous personality, always making time for her friends and family. Cecilia was meticulous in her habits as reflected by her discerning sense of fashion. A private memorial service is being held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Cecilia Cárdenas-Navia to the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/About-NINDS/Who-We-Are/Donate-NINDS. Please designate that the donation is given "to support research at NINDS." Letters of condolence can be sent to the family at 5431 Mohican Road, Bethesda, MD 20816 or by emailing a note or photo to Cecilia's email address.