Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau (28 November 1929 – 3 August 2019), also known as Thomas Remengesau Sr., was a politician in

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

. He was

Vice President of Palau The vice president of Palau is the second-highest position in the executive branch of the government of Palau, after the president. List of vice presidents See also *President of Palau *List of current Vice Presidents References Pa ...

from 1985 to 1988, and acting

President of Palau The president of the Republic of Palau is the head of state and head of government of Palau. The president is directly elected to a four-year term, and can be reelected once in a consecutive manner. List of presidents Latest election ...

in 1985 and

from 1988 to 1989 following the violent deaths of two previous presidents. When President

Haruo Remeliik Haruo Ignacio Remeliik (1 June 1933 – 30 June 1985) was a politician from Palau. He served as the first President of Palau from 2 March 1981 until his assassination on 30 June 1985. He is buried at Kloulklubed in his home state of Peleliu. R ...

was assassinated in June 1985, Vice President Oiterong returned from

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

to Palau on 2 July to take office of the President. Between these dates Minister of Justice Remengesau served as acting

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

until 2 July 1985. Remengesau was elected as Vice President in the special election in August 1985. After the shooting of President

Lazarus Salii Lazarus Eitaro Salii (17 November 1936 – 20 August 1988) was a politician from Palau. He served as the second elected President of Palau from 25 October 1985 until he committed suicide on 20 August 1988, amid bribery allegations. Salii was el ...

in August 1988, Remengesau became the President of Palau until Ngiratkel Etpison was sworn in January 1989. He was the Maderngebuked of Ngaraard.

Family

Remengesau was married to Ferista Esang Remengesau, who served as

First Lady of Palau First Lady of Palau is the official title attributed to the wife of the president of Palau. The country's current first lady is Valerie Whipps, wife of President Surangel Whipps Jr., who had held the position since 21 January 2021. First ladie ...

during her husband's brief terms as President. They had eight children. Their eldest child is

Thomas Remengesau Jr. Thomas Esang "Tommy" Remengesau Jr. (born 28 February 1956) is a Palauan people, Palauan politician; in 2013 he was elected the ninth president of Palau and was re-elected to that office in 2016. Previously he served as the seventh president of ...

, who has been the President of Palau from 2001 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2021. Valerie Whipps, daughter of Thomas Sr. and Ferista Esang Remengesau married Surangel Whipps Jr., a businessman and current

. Remengesau died on 3 August 2019, aged 89 during his son's last presidential term.

References

1929 births 2019 deaths 20th-century Palauan politicians Justice ministers of Palau People from Koror Presidents of Palau Traditional chiefs of Palau Vice presidents of Palau {{Palau-politician-stub