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Ping Duenas
Jose Andres Ramirez "Ping" Duenas (October 17, 1930 - August 31, 2009) was a Guamanian politician and public servant.[1] Duenas served as a Senator in the Legislature of Guam from 1971 to 1978 and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Guam in 1990.[2] Early lifeDuenas was born on October 17, 1930.[2] He resided in Dededo, Guam.[1] CareerIn 1962, Duenas became a founding member of the Guam Employees Federal Credit Union (GGEFCU).[2] That year, Duenas and 18 other Guam government employees deposited a total of $250 USD to establish the new credit union.[2] The GGEFCU has grown substantially in terms of assets since 1962.[2] Duenas served Guam as a public servant and politician for twenty-eight years. He worked in the Department of Administration as the auditor and chief accountant.[2] He also served as the chairman of the board of the Guam Housing Corporation and the vice president of financial affairs for the University of Guam.[2] Duenas, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected as a Senator in the Guam Legislature, where he served from 1971 until 1978.[2] While in the legislature, he became the minority leader of the 14th Guam Legislature.[1] During this time, he wrote a series of monthly columns detailing pressing social and political problems facing the island.[1] Duenas became the chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam for three years during the 1980s.[1] In 1990, Duenas unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor as the running mate of Madeleine Bordallo in the gubernatorial election.[1][2] He also worked as the campaign treasurer for Guam Senator Frank Aguon Jr.[2] DeathPing Duenas was hospitalized in Guam Memorial Hospital for a week in August 2009.[2] A decision was made to transport him to a medical facility in Anaheim, California, for medical treatment.[2] Duenas suffered a heart attack approximately an hour before the plane was scheduled to land in Anaheim on the flight from Hawaii on August 31, 2009.[1][2] He died on the plane en route to Anaheim at the age of 78.[2] His wife, Ling Duenas; son, Tommy; and brother, Dr. Vicente Duenas; were with him at the time.[2] Duenas' family informed the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, Judith Won Pat, that Duenas did not want a state funeral.[2] His viewing and funeral mass were held at the Santa Barbara Catholic Church in Dededo. He was buried at the Guam Memorial Park in Barrigada.[2] References
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