Joseph Felix Novas

Joseph (Joe) Novas, 78, of Miami, Florida, passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018, surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty; his four children, Robert (Lisa), Ronnie (Marlene), David (Barbie), and Vikki (Fred); his eight grandchildren, Lauren, Amanda, Tiffany, Marc, Emma, Connor, Kaylee, and Michael; and a great-granddaughter, Anaya.

Joe was born in Havana, Cuba on March 31, 1940, the son of Jose and Carmen Novas. He was the brother of Susie Montano and Hilda Vale, who both predeceased him. His family came to the U.S. in 1947, settling in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York. In 1954, his family moved to Miami, where he attended Miami Jackson High School, graduating in 1958. Joe then went to the University of Florida, where he met his wife, Betty Kopstein. He graduated from U.F. in 1962 and then earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Miami. He was a calculus teacher for 33 years in Miami-Dade Public Schools, starting at Miami Central High and then becoming the head of the math department at Hialeah Miami Lakes High.

In his younger years, Joe loved jogging daily and vacationing with family; after retirement, he enjoyed visiting with family and meeting friends at La Carreta.

Joe will be greatly missed and mourned by his family and his large circle of friends whose lives he touched.

A viewing will be held at Caballero Rivero, 8200 Bird Road, on Tuesday, November 27, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Funeral and burial will be on Wednesday, November 28, at 1:00 PM at Mount Nebo Cemetery, 5505 NW 3rd Street.