Sonia De Cruz

SONIA DE CRUZ Sonia Amanda Valle de Cruz, beloved daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on March 20th. The eldest daughter of Mariano Valle and Amanda Peters, she was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua and educated at Colegio La Asunci¢n. In 1952 she met the love of her life, Ernesto, accepting his proposal of marriage on their first date at a New Year's Party. Always devoted to her family, she moved to Cambridge, MA. in 1962 so her husband could pursue his doctoral studies at Harvard University. While her husband attended classes she worked at Widener Library and raised their children. Returning to Nicaragua in 1968, she enrolled at the law school of the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) from which she graduated with highest honors in 1973. She joined the legal department of the Central Bank of Nicaragua, reaching the position of deputy general counsel. She navigated her family through the 1972 earthquake and the 1979 revolution, eventually moving with her husband and youngest son to Miami in 1981. Never content to sit still, at the age of 49 she enrolled at the University of Miami, School of Law, graduating with a J.D. in 1987. She began her U.S. legal career at Holland & Knight and joined Steel, Hector & Davis in 1990 where she rose to become a highly respected partner. Her practice specialized in corporate & banking law and franchising and she retired in 2005 when her firm was merged into Squire, Sanders. An accomplished culinary enthusiast, she enjoyed touring Europe with her husband, doting upon her kids and grandchildren and preparing extraordinary feasts for her family at their homes in Key Biscayne and Managua. She is survived by her mother, Amanda, and adoring husband, Ernesto, her children Ernesto, Sonia, Eduardo and Rodrigo, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Memorial services were held at the University Chapel at UCA on March 24th.