Ana Mae Díaz

Ana Mae Diaz
First Lady of Panama
In office
June 11, 1990  September 1, 1994
Succeeded by Dora Boyd de Perez Balladares
Personal details
Born c. 1966
Spouse(s) Guillermo Endara
(m. 1990-2009)

Ana Mae Diaz de Endara (born c. 1966)[1] was the First Lady of Panama from 19901994.

A Panamanian of Chinese origin,[2] Diaz met future president Guillermo Endara in September 1989, while he was on hunger strike to protest the autocratic military rule of Manuel Noriega.[1] Diaz was a law student at the time.[3] Marcela Endara, Guillermo's wife of 28 years, had died in June of a heart attack while Endara was hospitalized due to a beating by Noriega's forces.[2] International observers had reported Endara to be the clear leader in the May presidential election,[4] and during the US invasion of Panama in December, he was sworn in as president.[5]

Panamanian newspapers began to publish photographs of Diaz and Endara together in January 1990, and Endara told press the pair were "going out".[1] The pair married on June 11, 1990, in a wedding attended by the ambassadors of various nations.[6] Endara was reportedly so happy in the marriage that he would even leave cabinet meetings for a "quick cuddle". Due in part to the couple's difference in ages and weightsEndara was in his mid-fifties and known for his weightthe marriage received widespread coverage and mockery in the Panamanian press, including a new nickname for Endara, El Gordo Feliz ("Happy Fatty").[7]

Endara ran for president again in 2004 and in 2009, placing second and a distant third, respectively.[8][9] On September 28, 2009, he died at age 73 at his home in Panama City, of a heart attack.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 William Branigin (January 21, 1990). "U.S. Troop Visibility Reduced in Panama;As Tensions Ease, Attention Turns to President's Love Life". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Phil Davison (October 2, 2009). "Guillermo Endara". The Independent. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  3. "Panama president, law student marry". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. June 11, 1990. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  4. "Endara's Coalition Faces Difficult Test". Albany Times Union. Associated Press. December 21, 1989. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012. (subscription required)
  5. Kenneth Freed (May 6, 1991). "Panama's 3-Party Rule Turns Into 3-Ring Circus". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  6. "Panama President Loves His New Bride". Tuscaloosa News. June 11, 1990. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Guillermo Endara". The Telegraph. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  8. "Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos)". The Economist. May 8, 2004. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  9. Juan Zamorano (May 4, 2009). "Supermarket magnate wins Panama presidential vote". Associated Press. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
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