Territorial Senate president
dies in Samoa after illness

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa » Territorial Senate President Lutu Tenari Fuimaono died at home Sunday at the age of 74.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but Fuimaono had been ill and had gone to Hawaii recently for medical treatment.

Fuimaono's daughter, Deanna Fuimaono, said he had suffered great pain during his last two weeks.

"Now he is at rest, and we wanted that dearly for him," she said.

Gov. Togiola T.A. Tulafono noted Fuimaono was the longest-serving senator in the history of the U.S. territory.

"His dedicated and exemplary service dates back to 1977," Tulafono said. "Over the years his charming wit and devotion to the Senate, our bastion of cultural protection, has been a mainstay of life here in American Samoa," Tulafono said.

Fuimaono served for 19 years as senator before being elected president in 1996. He also served three terms in the territorial House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate.

Fuimaono was educated locally before moving to California, where he attended Reedly Junior College and the Automation Institution of California. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1958 and moved back to American Samoa in the mid-1960s.

Funeral arrangements were pending.