BEST known for being a strong advocate for the cost of living allowance retirees, prominent community leader Gloria Camacho Borja Nelson has died from a long-standing illness. She was 77.
According to family members, she died at 4:04 p.m. at Guam Memorial Hospital. She was with her husband former senator Ted Nelson; her children Gwen, Ted, Glenn and Rhonda; several grandchildren; and other close friends and relatives.
The former Department of Education director held a number of other positions, the most recent of which was as an officer of the Democratic Party of Guam and the vice-chairwoman/secretary of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities. She served as well as chairperson of the Guam Election Commission and the Territorial Board of Education.
Nelson was also among the many land owners in Yigo who opposed the building of firing ranges for the Marines in Sasayan valley and the nearby Pågat area where an ancient village and freshwater cave is located.
Her role in the class action lawsuit against the government of Guam to ensure COLA payments were made to GovGuam retirees and their survivors earned her the nickname “Lola COLA.”
Champion
CCU Chairman Simon Sanchez expressed the commission and his personal condolences to the family.
“She’s been such a champion for the community and such a loving mother and grandmother and just one of Guam’s most special people. We’re grateful she’s no longer suffering but we know it’s a huge loss for Guam,” Sanchez said. “She’s served our community as an educator, a teacher, an administrator and she even chose to take on problems she wasn’t familiar with. But she always came to the table prepared and always was worried about how the employees would be and how the community would respond to our decisions.”
“The most important thing we can do is carry on her goodness and try to be half the public servant that she’s always been,” he added.
Rosaries begin tonight after the 6 p.m. mass at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Hagåtña.
Comments
Respectfully,
REGINA BORJA
Chamori Nation
hachamori@gmail .com
cc: Maga'Saina Mataknga
Spiritual Leader of the Chamori Peoples of
Guahan, Luta, Tinian, Saipan, Agrigan, Anatahan, Alamagan,
Guguan, Sarigan, Pagan & Maug.
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