Luisa Gándara
Encyclopedia
Luisa "Piti" Gándara is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
and served as First Lady
from 2005 to 2009.
Following the tradition of previous Puerto Rico First Ladies, Gándara refrained from holding a remunerative job while a resident of La Fortaleza
. She previously worked as a high school teacher and as an executive at a multinational information technology firm.
As First Lady, Gándara dedicated much of her attention to educational issues and developed a reading program that received national recognition, including an innovations award from the Council of State Governments
.
Active in her husband's successful Congressional campaign in 2000 and his campaign for governor in 2004, Gándara was heavily involved in his reelection bid in 2008
and supported him during a federal trial against him.
In 2011, Gándara confirmed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
.
Gándara and Acevedo Vilá have two children: Gabriela, a Harvard University
student, and Juan Carlos, a student at the University of Puerto Rico
.
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
and served as First Lady
First Lady of Puerto Rico
First Lady of Puerto Rico is the title traditionally given to the spouse of the Governor of Puerto Rico. The current First Lady is Lucé Vela.-Current:...
from 2005 to 2009.
Following the tradition of previous Puerto Rico First Ladies, Gándara refrained from holding a remunerative job while a resident of La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...
. She previously worked as a high school teacher and as an executive at a multinational information technology firm.
As First Lady, Gándara dedicated much of her attention to educational issues and developed a reading program that received national recognition, including an innovations award from the Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
.
Active in her husband's successful Congressional campaign in 2000 and his campaign for governor in 2004, Gándara was heavily involved in his reelection bid in 2008
Puerto Rican general election, 2008
The Puerto Rico general election of 2008, held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 was the most recent election to select the Governor of Puerto Rico.The election was won by Luis G...
and supported him during a federal trial against him.
In 2011, Gándara confirmed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
Gándara and Acevedo Vilá have two children: Gabriela, a Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
student, and Juan Carlos, a student at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
Awards and recognitions
- Council of State GovernmentsCouncil of State GovernmentsThe Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
State Innovations Award - for a reading program that she developed as First Lady