Xavier Navarro Aquino, acclaimed novelist, professor, and artist, has passed away, leaving behind a literary and academic legacy defined by fearless creativity and profound humanity. A professor at the University of Notre Dame, Xavier was admired as an intentional, intense, and unapologetic writer whose work resonated deeply with readers, students, and fellow authors alike.
Best known for his acclaimed 2022 novel Velorio, Xavier earned recognition across literary circles for storytelling that was both brutal and beautiful in its honesty. His accomplishments stretched far beyond a single work, including scholarships to the Bread Loaf and Sewanee Writers’ Conferences, publications in Tin House, McSweeney’s, and Guernica, as well as invitations to speak internationally, including at the Boca Lit Fest in Trinidad. He also earned a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska, where lifelong friendships and creative partnerships were formed while editing fiction for Prairie Schooner.
Friends and colleagues remember Xavier not only for his brilliance on the page, but for the generosity of spirit he carried into classrooms, workshops, and artistic communities. Many were also moved to discover his extraordinary talent as a painter — another dimension of an artist whose creativity knew few boundaries. Former classmates and students recall a mentor who tirelessly nurtured young writers, organized literary events, and remained devoted to uplifting others long after graduation.
As tributes continue to pour in from across academia and the literary world, heartfelt condolences are being extended to his family in Utuado, his wife Jayleen Santiago, close friends, colleagues, and former students. Xavier Navarro Aquino’s voice, art, and influence will endure through the countless lives and stories he helped shape.