First Lady of Puerto Rico is the title traditionally given to the spouse of the Governor of Puerto Rico

Governor of Puerto Rico

The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...

. The current First Lady is Lucé Vela

Lucé Vela

Lucé Vela Gutierrez is the wife of Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño and has been serving as First Lady since her husband was sworn in 2009.-Education:...

.

Current

The current first lady is Lucé Vela

Lucé Vela

Lucé Vela Gutierrez is the wife of Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño and has been serving as First Lady since her husband was sworn in 2009.-Education:...

, wife of Luis Fortuño

Luis Fortuño

Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...

. At present, there are seven living former first ladies: Jeannette Ramos, wife of Roberto Sánchez Vilella

Roberto Sánchez Vilella

Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...

; Rosario Ferré

Rosario Ferré

Dr. Rosario Ferré is a Puerto Rican writer, poet and essayist. Her father, Luis A. Ferré, was the third elected Governor of Puerto Rico, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party. When her mother, Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano, died in 1970...

, daughter of Luis A. Ferré

Luis A. Ferré

Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...

; Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló, and served as First Lady from 1977 to 1984. Prior to that, she served for eight years as First Lady of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city....

, wife of Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...

; Irma Margarita Neváres

Irma Margarita Neváres

Irma Margarita "Maga' Neváres is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Rosselló and served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001.Neváres and Rosselló married in August 9, 1969. They had three children: Juan Oscar , Luis Roberto , and Ricardo .-References:...

, wife of Pedro Rosselló

Pedro Rosselló

Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...

; Sila María

Sila María González Calderón

Sila María González Calderón is a Puerto Rican Senator. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady, along with her sister, María Elena.-Early years and studies:...

 and María Elena González Calderón

María Elena González Calderón

María Elena González Calderón is a Puerto Rican attorney. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady, along with her sister, Sila María....

, daughters of Sila Calderón; and Luisa Gándara

Luisa Gándara

Luisa "Piti" Gándara is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Aníbal Acevedo Vilá and served as First Lady from 2005 to 2009.Following the tradition of previous Puerto Rico First Ladies, Gándara refrained from holding a remunerative job while a resident of La Fortaleza...

, wife of Aníbal Acevedo Vilá

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá

Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...

.

Role of the first lady

The position of First Lady carries no official duty and receives no compensation for their service. They generally oversee the administration of La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...

, the mansion that serves as the Governor's residence and Office. They also organize events and civic programs, and typically get involved in different charities and social causes.

Official portraits

The official portraits of each First Lady, beginning with Jesús T. Piñero

Jesus T. Piñero

Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.-Early years:...

's wife, are exhibited in La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza

La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...

 since Rafael Hernández Colón's administration. They are located in the staircase that leads to the third floor private gubernatorial residence. Current First Lady Lucé Vela had the portraits loaned to the Puerto Rico Department of State, to be seen by the public during two weeks in May 2009. The opening reception of the exhibit, presided by Secretary of State

Secretary of State

Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....

 Kenneth McClintock

Kenneth McClintock

Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...

, was attended by three governors (Luis Fortuño

Luis Fortuño

Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...

, Hernández Colón, and Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...

), and four first ladies (Jeannette Ramos, Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló, and served as First Lady from 1977 to 1984. Prior to that, she served for eight years as First Lady of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city....

, María Elena González

Maria Elena González

María Elena González is a Cuban-American artist best known for her sculptural installations that are architecturally as well as personally informed. In 1999, González received widespread acclaim for her site-specific outdoor sculpture, Magic Carpet/Home...

, and Lucé Vela).

First Ladies

First Lady			Date of birth	Date of marriage	Governor (Husband)	Date tenure began	Date tenure ended	Length of retirement	Date of death (age)
		Aurelia Bou Ledesma Aurelia Bou Ledesma Aurelia Bou Ledesma was the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Jesús T. Piñero. They were married in 1931 and had two children: Haydée and José Emilio.-External links:* on SUAGM...		1931	Jesús T. Piñero Jesus T. Piñero Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.-Early years:...	January 2, 1946	January 1, 1949
1		Inés Mendoza Inés Mendoza Inés María Mendoza Rivera de Muñoz Marín , was a former First Lady of Puerto Rico, teacher, writer and socialite. She was the second wife of Governor Luis Muñoz Marín.-Biography:...	January 10, 1908	November 16, 1946	Luis Muñoz Marín Luis Muñoz Marín Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...	January 2, 1949	January 1, 1965
2		Conchita Dapena Conchita Dapena Conchita Dapena was the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Roberto Sánchez Vilella and served as First Lady from 1965 until their divorce in 1966....	1913	July 10, 1936	Roberto Sánchez Vilella Roberto Sánchez Vilella Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...	January 2, 1965	January 1, 1966
3		Jeannette Ramos Jeannette Ramos Jeannette Ramos Buonomo is a former Puerto Rican judge and First Lady. She was the second wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Roberto Sánchez Vilella, and served as First Lady since their marriage in 1967 to 1969...		1967	Roberto Sánchez Vilella Roberto Sánchez Vilella Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...	1967	January 1, 1969		Living
4		Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano was the first wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Luis A. Ferré and served as First Lady from 1968 until her death in 1970.Ramírez was born on Estrella Street in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Alfredo Ramírez de Arellano y Rosell....		May 30, 1931	Luis A. Ferré Luis A. Ferré Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...	January 2, 1969	1970		1970
5		Rosario Ferré Rosario Ferré Dr. Rosario Ferré is a Puerto Rican writer, poet and essayist. Her father, Luis A. Ferré, was the third elected Governor of Puerto Rico, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party. When her mother, Lorenza Ramírez de Arellano, died in 1970...	September 28, 1938	N/A	Luis A. Ferré Luis A. Ferré Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico... (father)	1970	January 1, 1972		Living
6		Lila Mayoral Wirshing Lila Mayoral Wirshing Lila de las Mercedes Mayoral Wirshing was the wife of Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón, and served as First Lady during his three terms as Governor .-Early years and marriage:...	May 12, 1942	October 24, 1959	Rafael Hernández Colón Rafael Hernández Colón Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...	January 2, 1972	January 1, 1977	N/A
7		Kate Donnelly Kate Donnelly Kate Donnelly is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Carlos Romero Barceló, and served as First Lady from 1977 to 1984. Prior to that, she served for eight years as First Lady of San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city....			Carlos Romero Barceló Carlos Romero Barceló Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...	January 2, 1977	January 1, 1985		Living
8		Lila Mayoral Wirshing Lila Mayoral Wirshing Lila de las Mercedes Mayoral Wirshing was the wife of Governor of Puerto Rico Rafael Hernández Colón, and served as First Lady during his three terms as Governor .-Early years and marriage:...	May 12, 1942	October 24, 1959	Rafael Hernández Colón Rafael Hernández Colón Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...	January 2, 1985	January 1, 1993
9		Irma Margarita Neváres Irma Margarita Neváres Irma Margarita "Maga' Neváres is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Pedro Rosselló and served as First Lady from 1993 to 2001.Neváres and Rosselló married in August 9, 1969. They had three children: Juan Oscar , Luis Roberto , and Ricardo .-References:...		August 9, 1969	Pedro Rosselló Pedro Rosselló Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...	January 2, 1993	January 1, 2001		Living
10		Sila María González Calderón Sila María González Calderón Sila María González Calderón is a Puerto Rican Senator. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady, along with her sister, María Elena.-Early years and studies:... and María Elena González Calderón María Elena González Calderón María Elena González Calderón is a Puerto Rican attorney. She is the daughter of former Governor of Puerto Rico Sila Calderón, and served as her First Lady, along with her sister, Sila María....		N/A	Sila Calderón (mother)	January 2, 2001	January 1, 2005		Living
11		Luisa Gándara Luisa Gándara Luisa "Piti" Gándara is the wife of former Governor of Puerto Rico Aníbal Acevedo Vilá and served as First Lady from 2005 to 2009.Following the tradition of previous Puerto Rico First Ladies, Gándara refrained from holding a remunerative job while a resident of La Fortaleza...			Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Aníbal Acevedo Vilá Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...	January 2, 2005	January 1, 2009		Living
12		Lucé Vela Lucé Vela Lucé Vela Gutierrez is the wife of Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño and has been serving as First Lady since her husband was sworn in 2009.-Education:...			Luis Fortuño Luis Fortuño Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...	January 2, 2009	Incumbent	Incumbent	Living

External links

• First Lady on La Fortaleza