7 days ago
Oswaldo Muñoz, pioneer of Venezuelan community in Miami, dies after long illness
Oswaldo Muñoz, entrepreneur, editor, community leader and a key figure in the history of the Venezuelan diaspora in the United States, died on July 25 in Madrid at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.
Founder of the community newspaper El Venezolano and later of El Venezolano TV, both based in Miami, Muñoz was a beloved and visionary figure who helped weave the first threads of unity among Venezuelans in South Florida, back when they were just beginning to arrive in the city in the early 1990s.
He died as he lived: discreetly, surrounded by the love of those closest to him, and faithful to his nature of shielding others from his own suffering.
'He didn't want anyone to know what he was going through,' said Ignacio Marcano, one of his closest companions during his final days. 'He would tell people he was just getting some tests done. He never wanted to worry anyone.'
After Muñoz's final hospital visit, his doctors decided to sedate him. He passed away peacefully at 7 am local time in Madrid.
Pioneer in unknown territory
Oswaldo arrived in Miami in 1991, at a time when the Venezuelan community was so small that, as he liked to say, 'we could all fit in a restaurant dining room.' He founded El Venezolano in August 1992, just days after the devastating impact of Hurricane Andrew on South Florida. Against all odds, he managed to distribute the first edition amid the hurricane's devastation.
From then on, El Venezolano became a beacon for thousands of newly arrived Venezuelans seeking news, guidance and a voice to represent them in exile. What began as a modest entrepreneurial venture turned into an influential media outlet with franchises in other U.S. cities and across Latin America.
'Oswaldo was the Venezuelan who brought Venezuelans and the local Miami community together the most,' said José Hernández, a friend and colleague who led the editorial team at El Venezolano for years. 'He was one of the first visible leaders at a time when there were hardly any Venezuelans in the city. He shared spaces with figures like Jorge Mas Canosa and other important community leaders.'
More than just a paper
For years, El Venezolano served as an extension of the Venezuelan consulate, especially when the official representation ceased operating in Miami.
'On many occasions, we functioned as the consulate,' recalls Sylvia Bello, Muñoz's business partner, friend and colleague for 25 years. 'Oswaldo was a man who supported so many people in every way.'
The paper became a platform for employment, integration and gathering. 'He gave work to a lot of people,' Bello said. 'He organized events that brought together hundreds. At our anniversary editions, we hosted as many as 600 people in Miami's most prestigious hotels. Those were celebrations that showcased the strength and pride of our community.'
Between 1998 and the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, El Venezolano was an undisputed reference point—not only for its content but also for the approachable and charismatic style of its founder.
Muñoz had a natural ability to connect with public figures and celebrities, his colleagues said. 'He was friends with everyone: El Puma (José Luis Rodríguez), the Stefans (Gloria and Emilio), you name it. He wasn't afraid of anything. He'd pick up the phone and everyone would answer,' Bello recalled.
Those who knew him agree that behind the editor was a deeply generous person, always ready to help. 'He was the friend everyone wants to have—unconditional, compassionate, always smiling,' Bello added.
For many immigrants arriving without support networks, without jobs, and without any idea of how to begin anew in a foreign city, Oswaldo was a guide and anchor. 'There was no one who approached him for help and didn't receive it,' Hernández said. 'In a way, he helped the city grow. Many people advertised with him, and many businesses started thanks to El Venezolano.'
In a story he proudly shared, Oswaldo recounted meeting Nobel-prize winning novelist Gabriel García Márquez at a book fair in Bogotá. The Colombian writer complimented his writing. Oswaldo humbly replied that he wasn't a journalist by profession. García Márquez responded: 'You're wrong. Journalism is a craft, not a profession.'
Few lines could have better described Muñoz's path. Without a university degree in journalism, he built a career based on vocation, instinct, empathy and an ability to connect with people.
Enduring legacy
Muñoz's legacy cannot be measured solely in printed issues or TV broadcasts. His greatest contribution, those close to him said, is the community he helped build. 'He fulfilled all his dreams,' says Sylvia Bello. 'Now he's in a better place, and he left a mark on each of us who knew him.'
Over the last three years, Oswaldo waged a tough battle with cancer. It started in his spine, then moved to his lungs. Later, doctors needed to remove a kidney. Despite everything, he managed to recover multiple times.
'He always had this amazing ability to bounce back. I don't know how he did it,' Bello says. 'But eventually, his body said, 'This is it.''
Despite his deteriorating health, he tried to maintain life as normal as possible, those close to him said.
Muñoz leaves behind a grateful community, dozens of friends, former coworkers, readers, and partners who considered him family, his friends said. He also leaves behind a body of work that will live on through the pages of El Venezolano and in the memories of those whose lives he touched.
He was, in the words of those who knew and admired him, 'the unconditional friend everyone hopes to have,' perhaps the best headline to remember his life by.
