[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 61 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FIRST LADY ROSANNE SANTOS ADA

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. MICHAEL F.Q. SAN NICOLAS

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 8, 2021

  Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Rosanne Santos Ada. Rosanne was a former first lady of Guam 
and dedicated public servant. The people of Guam will fondly remember 
her as a leader whose decades of contributions to our underserved 
communities and wholehearted compassion strengthened our island 
community.
  When Rosanne's husband, Joseph Ada, was elected to office as the 
Governor of Guam in 1987, she rose to proudly serve our people as its 
first lady for eight years. In addition to being a dedicated wife, 
mother, and grandmother, she is widely known as a passionate advocate 
for members of our community in most need. As a first lady, she 
advocated for greater support and services for individuals with 
disabilities, and her contributions to this community further expanded 
through her work as a director at the Department of Integrated Services 
for Individuals with Disabilities and Executive Director of the Guam 
Developmental Disabilities Council. Taking on these roles of leadership 
in our community, Rosanne further assisted in developing culturally 
competent programs to promote self-determination, independence, and 
productivity for individuals with disabilities. Further, she worked for 
and with individuals with disabilities and their families in advocating 
for systems change, public policy, and best practices which accounted 
for the full inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities 
in all facets of community life.
  Her lifelong mission of selfless service and advocacy for the 
voiceless also poured out into other parts of her career as well. 
Alongside her colleagues at Guma' Mami, a community-based nonprofit 
organization, Rosanne continued her work of inclusion and integration 
while facilitating supportive housing and successful case management 
for adults with disabilities. This profound commitment to others above 
and before self truly proved limitless through her continued work for 
the marginalized during Eddie Calvo's gubernatorial administration.
  Rosanne Ada is an icon of servant leadership, dear friend to many, 
and esteemed champion of equitable support systems for all. Her life's 
work illustrates a humbling devotion to seeking justice in places often 
overlooked, and I join the people of Guam in remembering and 
celebrating her life and legacy of unconditional commitment to serving 
the people she leaves behind. I extend my deepest condolences to former 
Governor Joseph Ada, their children Eric, Tricia, and Ester, and the 
rest of their family and friends. Rosanne will be deeply missed, and 
her love and memories will forever remain in the hearts of the people 
of Guam.

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