The CNMI will honor Ada with a state funeral at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center at 8 this morning before he is finally laid to rest.
Ada is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ines S. Ada, and their seven children — Maria Lourdes, Eloise, Lillian, Estrellita, Francisco, Norma and Luciana.
The House of Representatives and the Senate separately adopted commemorative resolutions paying tribute to Ada and his significant contributions to the CNMI’s political and social growth since becoming a commonwealth of the United States in 1976.
Ada was the district administrator of the Marianas District of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands from 1969 through 1976.
In 1978, he became the first elected lt. governor of the CNMI and worked alongside then Gov. Carlos S. Camacho.
Ada was born on Sept. 26, 1934 to Francisco Alig Ada and Luciana Diaz Castro of Garapan.
He attended George Washington High School on Guam and received his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
He also received training in the legislative process at the East-West Center on the Oahu campus before returning to his home island in 1962.
That year, he began his career in public service as a member of the Saipan Municipal Congress.
In 1963, he became a member of the Mariana Islands District Legislature and went on to higher positions in public office.
“In his capacity as district administrator, the honorable Francisco Castro Ada paved the way for the Northern Mariana Islands’ future commonwealth status and democratic form of government,” states Senate Commemorative Resolution 17-01.
Ada is also credited for the establishment of the Saipan international airport, the gateway to the islands’ tourism-based economy, which was later named after him.
“[R]ecognizing the importance of a modernized airport facility in our islands and the economic development it would drive, the honorable Francisco Castro Ada was instrumental in the establishment of the Mariana Islands Airport Authority, which took bold and innovative steps to finance our present day airport facility; and whereas on Oct. 14, 2002, then-Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed into law Saipan Local Law 13-10, renaming the Saipan International Airport the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport,” the resolution reads.
