Jose Santos Rios

Jose Santos Rios (December 19, 1939 - January 21, 2018) was a Northern Mariana Islands politician and educator who served as the third Mayor of Saipan from January 8, 1982, until January 7, 1986.[1][2][3] The present-day office of mayor, which governs the territorial capital, was created in 1978 following the declaration of the Northern Mariana Islands as a Commonwealth in January 1978.[1]

Santos was born on December 19, 1939.[2][3] He enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Korean War during the early 1950s.[2] Santos would later join the United States Peace Corps and was stationed on the Micronesian island of Chuuk.[2][3]

Jose Santos Rios died on January 21, 2018, at the age of 78.[2] He was survived by his wife, Emilia Rios, and their four children, Roy Rios, Marie Martinez, Remay McNally, and Joseph Rios Jr. Jose Santos Rios [1][3] was given a military funeral with burial at a veterans cemetery in Washington state on February 2, 2018.[1] An official memorial service was held at the Saipan Leadership Memorial Courtyard, also known as the kiosku, in Chalan Kanoa on February 23, 2018.[2][3] Dignitaries in attendance included Governor Ralph Torres, U.S. Rep. Gregorio Sablan, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, and members of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature.[3]