[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONDOLENCES TO THE FERRE FAMILY

                                 ______


                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 1996

  Ms. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to express my deepest condolences to the Ferre family, a 
distinguished and dedicated family within the Miami community and to 
Metro Dade commissioner and Miami's ex-mayor, Maurice Ferre, who 
suffered the tragic loss of his son, Francisco Ferre Malaussena, his 
daughter-in-law, Mariana Gomez de Ferre, and the couple's newly born 
son, Felipe Antonio Ferre Gomez, on the fatal American Airlines Boeing 
757 en route to Cali, Colombia on December 20.
  It is at moments such as these when one asks God for strength and 
guidance in order to overcome this tragedy that took the life of this 
young aspiring attorney, his beautiful and well-educated wife, and 
their adorable, newly born son who were all on their way to the 
infant's christening in Cali, Colombia.
  Francisco, who was a graduate of Boston University Law School and 
practiced at a prestigious law firm in Madrid, Spain before coming to 
Miami, was also a young man of noble sentiments who did his best to 
keep very close ties with his family and befriend all of those he met. 
Mariana, a native of Cali, was a graduate of Wellesley College where 
she had pursued a degree in political science and French. Upon 
graduation from this prestigious institution, Mariana obtained her MBA 
from the University of Miami.
  The newlywed couple, who this January would have celebrated their 
third wedding anniversary, will be sorely missed by both of their 
respective families and by all of those who had the honor and pleasure 
of knowing them and the newest addition to their family.
  Surviving Francisco in addition to his father and mother, the 
Honorable Maurice A. Ferre and Mrs. Mercedes Malaussena de Ferre, are 
his five siblings: Jose Luis, Maurice, Carlos, Mimi, and Florence. 
Immediate family members who survive Mariana are her parents, Mr. 
Gustavo Gomez Franco and Mrs. Maria Cristina Vallecilla de Gomez, and 
her six brothers and sisters: Enrique, Luciano, Maria Cristina, Roxana, 
Gustavo Felipe, and Julian.
  Once again, I extend my deepest condolences to the Ferre family in 
these very trying times.

                          ____________________