Maria Zuno; Former Mexican First Lady
Maria Esther Zuno, former first lady of Mexico known for championing women’s rights and social causes, died Saturday in Mexico City of complications of diabetes. She was 74.
For 54 years, Zuno was the wife of Luis Echeverria, who was president of Mexico from 1970 to 1976. The couple met at the home of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, and Zuno also befriended artists David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco and Isidro Fabela.
The mother of eight children, Zuno devoted herself during her husband’s tenure in the presidency to domestic social programs, equal rights for women and promoting Mexican cultural traditions. To popularize the country’s culture, she conducted goodwill tours to other countries to share Mexico’s dance, dress, music and art.
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