Rosanne Santos Ada

Rosanne Santos Ada was a Guamanian businesswoman who served as the First Lady of Guam from 1987 to 1995.

Early life and education

Rosanne Jacqueline Santos Ada was born on June 28, 1944, in Guam during the Japanese occupation of Guam. At the time of her birth, her parents, Mariano Barcinas Santos and Ana Sablan Borja Santos, and their seven other children were enroute to the Manenggon Concentration Camp. The Japanese occupation of Guam ended on August 10, 1944.
Ada graduated from George Washington High School and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education from the University of Arizona in 1967.
She furthered her education by earning a Master's degree in Education from the University of Portland, a Catholic university in Oregon.

Career

Ada was a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities and served as the executive director of the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council.
When her husband, Joseph Franklin Ada, was elected Governor of Guam in November 1986, she became the First Lady of Guam. She held this position from January 5, 1987 to January 2, 1995.

Personal life

Ada's husband was Joseph Franklin Ada. They had three children: Eric, Tricia, and Esther.
Ada died on March 18, 2021, in her home in Yigo, Guam. She was laid to rest at Guam Memorial Park in Leyang, Barrigada, Guam.