Ameko Pato, the Director of the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency passed away suddenly yesterday.
Relatives and friends have confirmed to KHJ News that Pato collapsed at a toonai for delegates from the US Environmental Protecting Agency here for the US Coral Reef Task Force meeting, at $2 Beach yesterday.
Among those at the gathering was the Region 9 Administrator for USEPA, Mr. Michael Stoker.
Governor Lolo Moliga, Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and several cabinet members joined Pato’s wife, President of the American Samoa Community College Dr. Rosevonne Pato and two of their five children and many relatives and friends at a prayer service at the LBJ Hospital Chapel yesterday.
Pato’s priest from the Co-Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph the Worker, Monsignor Viane Etuale led the service.
Pato has headed the ASEPA since the start of the Lolo Lemanu administration and one of the few cabinet members who was openly critical of some of the government’s decisions and policies.
He was often called to the carpet as it were for comments that were attributed to him critical of some of the administration’s decisions and policies.
KHJ News understands that last week the governor sternly told Pato to follow a directive that the director did not support.
Governor Lolo made mention of this at the cabinet meeting Wednesday when he talked about putting the interests of the public first.
Staff members told KHJ News that Pato looked tired and his walk was sluggish in the last few days.
He was in charge of the territory-wide clean up for the US Coral Reef Task Force meeting and was a key member of the organizing committee.
Today was to be his agency’s first sit down meeting with the USEPA Region 9 Administrator Mr . Michael Stoker.
Before joining EPA Pato spent decades as a teacher and administrator including many years with the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas public school system.
He once made a run for the American Samoa House of Representatives.
Pato and his wife Rosevonne are dedicated members of the Co Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Fagatogo.
He is survived by his wife, Rosevonne Makaiwi Pato, five children and grandchildren.
Our deepest condolences to Mrs Pato, children and family for the untimely passing of their husband and father.
