[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 677-678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF MRS. MAE CRUZ TENORIO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and profound 
sadness that I rise today to honor the life and public service of Mrs. 
Mae Cruz Tenorio. Mae managed my District Office in Guam with humor, 
courtesy and professionalism for 3 years, which marked a continuation 
of almost 8 years of service as the Special Assistant and Special 
Projects Director for my predecessor, Representative Robert Underwood. 
Mae possessed the qualities of commitment to good government, selfless 
service to her community, and integrity

[[Page 678]]

that are valued so highly by our congressional community.
  Mae's commitment to her community, to the United States and to public 
service began in 1971, at the Tulare County Credit Bureau in Visalia, 
California, where she worked as a part-time secretary and credit 
reporter. Mae returned to Guam in June 1978, to work for the Office of 
the Governor. She remained in public service to Guam for 35 years.
  Mae's work as a dedicated public servant and community leader has 
many highlights. Three themes throughout it are prominent: the 
advancement and empowerment of women; the strengthening of the family; 
and the improvement of our island. Her leadership on these issues 
spanned her work with the Government of Guam Office of the Comptroller, 
the Commission on Self-Determination, Office of the Governor of Guam, 
the Office of Congressman Robert Underwood, and in my office.
  Her reputation for thoroughness and high quality staff work, earned 
as a result of her tenure on the Commission on Self-Determination 
beginning in 1984, is of particular note. She provided the staff 
support for the Commission's initial public hearings under then 
Governor Ricky Bordallo. Governor Joseph Ada's decision to retain Mae's 
services when he became the Commission's Chairman is a testament to her 
dedicated service and unique abilities. Mae served as the Commission's 
senior Professional Staff Member until 1992.
  Equally notable was her work with the Office of the Governor 
promoting awareness of women and family issues on Guam from 1992 to 
1995. Mae continued her work to promote women and family issues as a 
leader of important community organizations on Guam. She was a founding 
member of the Guam Single Parents Network, established in 1977. 
Additionally, Mae became the first female president of the Pacific 
Jaycees in 1987, ably representing the Jaycees and Guam throughout the 
Pacific region and the world promoting community service and 
volunteerism.
  Mae's commitment to improving Guam and promoting the issues important 
to our island and its people continued when she joined the Office of 
Congressman Robert Underwood in 1995. As a respected and active member 
of that office she helped attract funding for The War in the Pacific 
National Historical Park Asan Bay Overlook Memorial Wall Project, while 
compiling the list of names for the memorial at the park, educating on 
and off-island Chamorro groups about the project, and helping to plan 
the official dedication of the wall. Mae's other contributions included 
providing timely and responsive constituent services and providing 
staff support to Congressman Underwood's War Restitution, Philippine 
Visa Waiver, and Economic Task Forces. Mae also organized Guam's 
Centennial Exhibit in Washington, DC, a pictorial review of Guam's 
history aimed to educate visitors to our Nation's Capital about our 
island and the issues that are important to us.
  Mae will be remembered not only for the excellent work she did on 
behalf of her beloved island and the United States of America, but for 
her grace, humanity, and humility. Her good humor, mentorship, and 
friendship were appreciated by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. 
Her efforts touched the lives of countless members of our island's 
community and Guam's friends in the United States and around the world. 
The influence of her work will remain strong for years to come.
  But Mae was not a woman that can be defined solely by her work; she 
was so much more to so many.
  Mae, a caring mother to Christina, Nick and Andrew, a loving wife to 
Joseph Tenorio, a trusted friend for many, a daughter of Guam, and a 
faithful servant to her island and her country, was called her home by 
her Heavenly Father on January 10, 2006. The call home relieved her 
from her suffering. But it left a definite void in my life and in the 
lives of those who knew and loved her. Mae's full and rewarding life 
and our memories of her gentle demeanor will serve as inspiration for 
us all for years to come. Mae was a kind soul. She will be dearly 
missed.

                          ____________________