Rosario Ana Mendez

Mendez, Rosario Ana, aka Anita de Palma 85 of Clearwater, FL passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2012 in her home. Anita was born on February 11, 1927 in New York City, New York to the late Raymond and Mary (Gregory) Mendez. She moved to this area in 1992 coming from New York. She was a member of Saint Cecelia Catholic Church and St Michael Archangel Catholic Church both of Clearwater, FL. Surviving are special friends Matilda M. Garcia of Tampa, FL, Denny Martinez of Clearwater, FL, Felipe (Lilly) Sepulveda of Holiday, FL, Gwendolyn MacKinnon of Tampa. FL, Thomas (Adrienne) Stieninger of St. Petersburg, FL, Perla Judd of Palm Harbor, FL, Efrem Canales of Clearwater, FL, Frank Rapales of PA and Gwen (Tom) McKenon, a nephew Mario Molina Chauvet and a cousin Augusto Rodriguez Mendez both of Merida, Mexico.

Anita spoke four languages and was a graduate of the Julliard School, with a BA in Performing Arts. By age 10, she was an accomplished concert pianist and at age 12 was cast in the Broadway production, Pardon My French. Upon graduation from Julliard, she performed the role of "Anita" in the original Broadway production of West Side Story.

In the 1960 John F. KennedyPresidential Campaign, she became the New York spokesperson for the Independent Citizens for Kennedy, urging citizens, from Wall Street, to Harlem, to "Little Italy" to register and vote.

After moving to Florida, Anita soon became active in politics and in civic and athnic advocacy groups. Ultimately she became the Florida State Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization.

A CHAMPION FOR THE RIGHTS OF WORKING AMERICANS.

For many years a human rights activist, Anita de Palma has fought for:

The rights of women.

An end to domestic violence.

Affordable health care.

A sensible immigration policy.

Fair and equitable trade.

She sits on the Executive Board of the Florida Free Trade Commission and as a member of that group, Anita de Palma lobbied Members of Congress to stop the NAFTA expansion to Central America (CAFTA) and to stop sending American jobs overseas. She has also testified before congress on major health care and immigration issues.

A SOLID ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA.

Anita was a commissioner on the National housing Commission.

In 2004, she organized a disaster relief effort to provide victims of the "04" hurricanes with food, clothing and medical supplies. She initiated the Young Readers Program in the Tampa Bay Area - Now number 1 in Florida. She formed the Performing Arts Commission to promote the arts among young people. Anita was the former chair of Sen Bill Nelson's Air Force Academy Appointment Committee.

Friends are calling on Friday, November 9, 2012 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home, 693 South Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida 33764. Ph# 727-562-2070. Funeral Services will follow on Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 10 am at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Pyramid Crypts, Inc Cemetery at 4655 East Lake Avenue, Tampa, FL.

Condolences may be offered at www.mossfeasterclearwater.com.