Edward DeLeon Guerrero Pangelinan

1941 - 2023

Pangelinan

Edward DeLeon Guerrero Pangelinan

Edward DeLeon Guerrero Pangelinan, first Resident Representative from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the United States House of Representatives, died on February 3, 2023 after a struggle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by Dulce Gatbonton Pangelinan, his wife of 58 years; son Michael and his wife Emma; daughter Jenny; son Joseph and his wife Jackie; son James and his wife Susannah; daughter Melissa and her husband Connor; son Matthew and his wife Jenny; god-daughter Adelina; eleven grandchildren; brother Pedro; brother Gonzalo; brother Alejandro; sister Ermina; sister Angelina; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.



The son of Joaquin Benaventura Pangelinan and Magdalena DeLeon Guerrero Pangelinan, he was born on October 24, 1941 on the island of Saipan. As a young child, he witnessed first-hand the devastation of his island during World War II. He attended the University of Guam for two years before transferring to George Washington University to earn his undergraduate degree. He earned his Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law becoming the first Chamorro lawyer in the Northern Mariana Islands.



He returned to Saipan, becoming an Assistant Attorney General for the Trust Territory. He also served as Assistant Legislative Counsel for the Congress of Micronesia. In 1970, Edward was elected Senator to represent the people of the Mariana Islands District in the Congress of Micronesia. Two years later, he was elected Chairman of the Marianas Political Status Commission, leading the political status negotiations with the United States. The Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States was signed after two and a half years of negotiations. President Ronald Reagan reappointed Pangelinan to the Northern Mariana Islands Commission on Federal Laws. For the rest of his life, he served in various roles supporting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He was immensely proud that the story of the Chamorro/Carolinian journey became an integral thread in the American national fabric.



Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Sunday, February 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, February 13 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 at 1 p.m. A private Interment will be held at a future date.