Mario Pita, who served for thirty years as Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development, helping poor people to secure housing and services such as water, sewage and roads in countries around the world, died of leukemia on March 8, 2007 at the age of seventy.

Mario actively participated in creating independent municipal governments and judicial systems in Central American countries in the aftermath of civil wars.

Upon his return to Miami in 1996, he became the producer, director and host of a Spanish language program, Los Hispanos y la Prevencion del Crimen, sponsored by Florida International University, designed to help Hispanics seek aid in dealing with problems such as those related to domestic violence and drug abuse. Mario also worked to get Doral incorporated as a city and was elected into the first Doral Community Council.

Mario was an active participant in the efforts of the Democratic party

in Miami-Dade, where he joined the Cuban-Americans for Change, writing newspaper articles and participating on radio and TV discussions concerning the need to reject the re-election of President Bush.

"His life was one of service to people in need" and "he was always willing to help" say his daughters, Maria Isabel and Lourdes Maria. "His faith in Christ was the motivating force of his diverse and exciting life" according to his son, Mario Alejandro.

Mario found happiness in his personal life when he re-encountered the girlfriend of his youth, whom he had not seen in thirty years, and subsequently married her. Adelita survives him, along with three children from a former marriage – Maria Isabel, Lourdes Maria and Mario Alejandro – who all miss him and love him dearly. We'll never forget you, papi.