Mori offered his condolences and sympathy to the Tman family.
Tman was born in Ngeremlengui, Palau on Jan. 18, 1938 and passed away on July 12 at the age of 71.
The late congressman was educated at St. Mary in Yap, PICS, and the University of Guam before he joined the Trust Territory Government as an editorial assistant in 1962.
In 1968, the High Commissioner appointed him as Chief of Civic Affairs, a position he held until his appointment in 1972 as District Administrator for Yap District.
In 1973, Tman was elected in the nation’s Congress and served as the floor leader of the House of Representatives of the Congress of Micronesia.
He was again elected to the newly formed FSM Congress in 1979 to 1983.
“Honorable Tman’s stint in FSM Congress included his having served as Floor Leader, his active participation during the countless deliberations at Congressional committees and his contribution in international and regional conferences such as Law of the Sea and Political and Maritime negotiations,” reads a proclamation that the FSM president signed for Tman.
Mori said Tman was not only a national figure but also an important advocate for justice in the island-nation.
“Between 1983 and 2004, he was a Special Consultant to the Yap State government, a law clerk, and a judge for the Yap State Court. He served with pride and excellence in all those positions,” he said.
Tman is survived by his five children–tMark F. DeYoung, John Fanamus Fritz, Debra R. Ngirrarois, Matthew Roboma, and Anthony Gwor and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“The passing of Honorable Tman is a great loss to the State of Yap and to the whole Nation as well. The Nation remembers him as a great public servant and an outstanding leader,” the proclamation for Tman further reads.
A national day of mourning will be observed in the FSM until today for Tman.
