Thomas Remengesau Sr.

His Excellency Thomas Remengesau Sr.
4th President of Palau
In office 20 August 1988 – 1 January 1989
Vice President	Vacant
Preceded by	Lazarus Salii
Succeeded by	Ngiratkel Etpison
Acting 30 June 1985 – 2 July 1985
Preceded by	Haruo Remeliik
Succeeded by	Alfonso Oiterong
2nd Vice President of Palau
In office 25 October 1985 – 20 August 1988
President	Lazarus Salii
Preceded by	Alfonso Oiterong
Succeeded by	Kuniwo Nakamura
1st Justice Minister of Palau
In office 1981 – 1 January 1989
President	Haruo Remeliik Alfonso Oiterong Lazarus Salii
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Kuniwo Nakamura
Personal details
Born	Thomas Ongelibel Remengasau (1929-11-28)28 November 1929 Koror, South Seas Mandate (now Palau)
Died	3 August 2019(2019-08-03) (aged 89) Koror, Palau
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Ferista Esang
Children	7, including Thomas Jr. and Valerie
Relatives	Surangel Whipps Jr. (son-in-law) Surangel Whipps Sr. (affinal)

Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau (28 November 1929 – 3 August 2019),[1][2] also known as Thomas Remengesau Sr., was a politician in Palau. He was Vice President of Palau from 1985 to 1988, and acting President of Palau in 1985 and President of Palau from 1988 to 1989 following the violent deaths of two previous presidents.

When President Haruo Remeliik was assassinated in June 1985, Vice President Oiterong returned from New York City to Palau on 2 July to take office of the President. Between these dates Minister of Justice Remengesau served as acting President until 2 July 1985.[3]

Remengesau was elected as Vice President in the special election in August 1985. After the shooting of President Lazarus Salii in August 1988, Remengesau became the President of Palau until Ngiratkel Etpison was sworn in January 1989.[4] He was the Maderngebuked of Ngaraard.[5]

Family

Remengesau was married to Ferista Esang Remengesau, who served as First Lady of Palau during her husband's brief terms as President. They had eight children. Their eldest child is Thomas Remengesau Jr.,[6] who has been the President of Palau from 2001 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2021. Valerie Whipps, daughter of Thomas Sr. and Ferista Esang Remengesau married Surangel Whipps Jr., a businessman and current President of Palau.[7] Remengesau died on 3 August 2019, aged 89 during his son's last presidential term.[8][9]

References

1. "August 2019". www.rulers.org.
2. "Presidential Proclamation No. 10-27" (PDF). palau.nfshost.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017.
3. "The National Union newspaper" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
4. "Second President of Palau Is Found Shot to Death". The New York Times. August 21, 1988. p. 23. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
5. "Council of Chiefs – PalauGov.pw". PalauGov.pw. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
6. Biography Palau National Government, archived from the original on 2018-05-13, retrieved 2018-03-14
7. "Palau island election: Brothers-in-law vying for presidency". The Independent. 2016-10-31. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
8. Partido, Gerry. "Former Palau president dies at 89; Guam governor sends condolences | PNC News First". Archived from the original on 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
9. Ngirairikl, Oyaol (4 August 2019). "Former Palau president dies at age 89". The Guam Daily Post.

Political offices
New title	Justice Minister of Palau 1981–1989	Succeeded by Kuniwo Nakamura
Preceded by Haruo Remeliik	Acting President of Palau 1985	Succeeded by Alfonso Oiterong
Preceded by Alfonso Oiterong	Vice President of Palau 1985–1988	Succeeded by Kuniwo Nakamura
Preceded by Lazarus Salii	President of Palau 1988–1989	Succeeded by Ngiratkel Etpison