Ana Mae Díaz

Ana Mae Diaz de Endara (born May 16, 1967)[1] was the First Lady of Panama from 1990–1994.

Ana Mae Diaz
First Lady of Panama
In role
June 11, 1990 – September 1, 1994
Preceded byMariela de Delvalle
Succeeded byDora Boyd de Perez Balladares
Personal details
Born (1967-05-16) May 16, 1967
Spouse(s)Guillermo Endara
(m. 1990–2009)

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.[3] Diaz was a law student at the time.[4] The former First Lady-desdignate, 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,[5] and — although he had earlier showed discomfort with US patronage — during the US invasion of Panama in December, he was sworn in as president from the safety of a US military base in the Canal Zone.[6]

Panamanian newspapers began to publish photographs of Diaz and Endara together in January 1990, and Endara told press the pair were "going out".[3]

First Lady of Panama

The pair married on June 11, 1990, within 9 months of having first met, in a wedding attended by the ambassadors of various nations.[7] Endara was reportedly so happy in the marriage that he would even be described as allegedly leaving cabinet meetings for a "quick cuddle".

Unsympathetic press coverage; and later life

Due in part to the couple's difference in ages and weights—Endara was in his mid-fifties, already a grandfather, and — despite his hunger strike — known for his weight; Ana Mae Díaz was 23—the marriage received widespread coverage and mockery in the Panamanian press, including a new nickname for Endara, El Gordo Feliz ("Happy Fatty").[8] [9]

Endara ran for president again in 2004 and in 2009, placing second and a distant third, respectively.[10][11] On September 28, 2009, he died at age 73 at his home in Panama City, of a heart attack.[8]

See also

References
  1. Ana Mae Díaz de Endara
  2. Phil Davison (October 2, 2009). "Guillermo Endara". The Independent. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  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. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  4. "Panama president, law student marry". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. June 11, 1990. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  5. "Endara's Coalition Faces Difficult Test". Albany Times Union. Associated Press. December 21, 1989. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  6. Kenneth Freed (May 6, 1991). "Panama's 3-Party Rule Turns Into 3-Ring Circus". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. "Panama President Loves His New Bride". Tuscaloosa News. June 11, 1990. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  8. "Guillermo Endara". The Telegraph. October 2, 2009. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. "Scandals end Endara presidency". Caribbean Update. October 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  10. "Not his father's son? Panama's new president.(Martin Torrijos)". The Economist. May 8, 2004. Archived from the original on September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
  11. Juan Zamorano (May 4, 2009). "Supermarket magnate wins Panama presidential vote". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012.(subscription required)
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