Eloise Baza
Encyclopedia
Eloise Baza was the president of the Guam
Chamber of Commerce
from 1984 until 2007. She was the first woman and the first Chamorro to hold the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce. She was also the longest-serving president of the organization to date.
, in Belmont, California
. She was also a student at Boston College
.
of the Economic development
Planning and Financing Division.
She left the department to work as an assistant for then-president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Jim McDonald, for three years. Baza became president of the Chamber in 1984 when McDonald stepped down. She was the first woman to head the organization. She remained president until her death in 2007.
Baza became active in the Guamanian community during her tenure. She was particularly interested in drug prevention programs. Among her many achievements was the creation of Guam's Juvenile and Adult Drug court
Programs. She co-founded the program with Guam Judge Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson. Most recently, Baza was involved in Guam's Red Ribbon
week in September 2007.
Baza was also considered an instrumental figure in the creation of the Guam Business Hall of Fame in 1992.
of cardiac arrest
. She was 54 years old. Her funeral was held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Sinajana
. She was buried in Talofofo, Guam
.
Guam's Delegate
to the United States House of Representatives
Madeleine Bordallo
issued a statement
in response to Baza's death: "Eloise was a driving force behind the Chamber and her leadership gave the
Chamber an important voice in our community. She played a central role in
the Chamber’s advocacy of sound economic policy, government reform and
community service."
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
from 1984 until 2007. She was the first woman and the first Chamorro to hold the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce. She was also the longest-serving president of the organization to date.
Early life
Baza was a 1974 graduate of the College of Notre Dame, which is now known as the Notre Dame de Namur UniversityNotre Dame de Namur University
Notre Dame de Namur University — formerly the College of Notre Dame — is a private, Catholic University located in Belmont, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. Notre Dame de Namur University is an accredited university in San Mateo County, and the fifth-oldest university in California...
, in Belmont, California
Belmont, California
Belmont is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. It is in the San Francisco Bay Area, located half-way down the San Francisco Peninsula between San Mateo and San Carlos. It was originally part of the Rancho de las Pulgas, for which one of its main roads, the Alameda de las Pulgas,...
. She was also a student at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
Guam Chamber of Commerce
Baza began working for the Guam Department of Commerce from 1976 to 1981 as chiefChair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
Planning and Financing Division.
She left the department to work as an assistant for then-president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, Jim McDonald, for three years. Baza became president of the Chamber in 1984 when McDonald stepped down. She was the first woman to head the organization. She remained president until her death in 2007.
Baza became active in the Guamanian community during her tenure. She was particularly interested in drug prevention programs. Among her many achievements was the creation of Guam's Juvenile and Adult Drug court
Drug court
Drug Courts are judicially supervised court dockets that handle the cases of nonviolent substance abusing offenders under the adult, juvenile, family and tribal justice systems...
Programs. She co-founded the program with Guam Judge Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson. Most recently, Baza was involved in Guam's Red Ribbon
Red ribbon
The red ribbon, as an awareness ribbon colored red, has several different meanings in different contexts. Foremost, it is the symbol of solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.-Awareness symbol:...
week in September 2007.
Baza was also considered an instrumental figure in the creation of the Guam Business Hall of Fame in 1992.
Death
Eloise Baza died on October 29, 2007, at Guam Memorial HospitalGuam Memorial Hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital is located in Tamuning, Guam and is the only civilian hospital serving the community of Guam. The hospital has 158 licensed acute care beds, plus 40 beds at its off-site, long-term care Skilled Nursing Facility....
of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
. She was 54 years old. Her funeral was held at St. Jude Catholic Church in Sinajana
Sinajana, Guam
Sinajana is smallest of the nineteen Villages of Guam. It is located in the hills south of Hagåtña . The village's name may have come from the word "china-jan," cookware used to cook wild yams that once grew in the area. Sinajana is one of a few villages that was urbanized as a result of a...
. She was buried in Talofofo, Guam
Talofofo, Guam
Talofofo is a village located in the southern part of the United States territory of Guam, on the east coast. The village center is located in the hills above the coast, while the smaller coastal community below the cliff is known as Ipan....
.
Guam's Delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Madeleine Bordallo
Madeleine Bordallo
Madeleine Mary Zeien Bordallo is the Delegate from Guam to the United States House of Representatives.She was the first woman ever to serve as Guam's Delegate, Guam's first female Lieutenant Governor , Guam's first female candidate for Governor , and the first Democratic woman elected to the...
issued a statement
News release
A press release, news release, media release, press statement or video release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something ostensibly newsworthy...
in response to Baza's death: "Eloise was a driving force behind the Chamber and her leadership gave the
Chamber an important voice in our community. She played a central role in
the Chamber’s advocacy of sound economic policy, government reform and
community service."