| Antonia F. Grandea Lutherville, Maryland A portrait of dreams and joy |
no antibiotics in those days, and her baby sister Fe died at 10 months from meningitis. All these events
affected the family profoundly, and from that early age, Nena knew she would become a doctor.
After graduating valedictorian at both Padre Gómez Elementary School— Manila, and Mapa High
School— Manila 1953, she received a scholarship to study Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas.
Nena often jokes that if she had done her college medical training in the States that it would have been
so much easier, because of the resources provided to medical students in America. At one time her
sister Anita had an entire textbook copied because Filipino students did not have the luxury of having
their own books. Although Nena would receive near-perfect marks in biochemistry and neurology, her
ambition was to be a Pediatrician. She graduated “cum laude” from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas with Meritissimus in Revalida (oral exams). She did pro bono
work at St. Mary’s Hospital Iloilo City and at the Albay Provincial Hospital in 1960- 1961. Within the span
of a decade, the de la Fuente’s went from working any job they could find, to the point where Nena de la
Fuente worked only honest, and sincere man, and she fell in love. It was one dream that came true in
her life that she didn’t quite expect. Once she knew that he was serious about getting married and
starting a family, Nena abandoned her dream of becoming a Pediatrician. Following in the footsteps of
her mentor, Lucy Lesser, she would become an Anesthesiologist.
Her eldest, Glen, was born in 1963. Tragedy struck again in 1964, as her second child, Melissa, died a
few hours after she was born. Thankfully, the rest of her children, Steven (1965), Sharon (1969), and
Jerry (1970), were born perfectly healthy, and had happy childhoods.
The 1970s were the golden age of private practice: Nena moved from St. Joseph’s Hospital back to
Maryland General Hospital. Her profession not only allowed her to fulfill another dream of seeing the
world, it meant that she could give back to her homeland, the people and country that raised and
nurtured her. Although the Philippines may have exported some of their greatest minds of the postwar
generation, these children of the Philippines would send back thousands, even millions of dollars to
support their families and charitable organizations. In 1977, she co-founded the UST Medical Alumni
Foundation of Maryland, and has been a former president. Among its accomplishments, it established
the Maryland Room at the UST Medical Library, has provided many medical scholarships, and now
supports the Lupus program at UST. Her ties to the University have. Despite the financial tensions that
have mounted for seeing their children to school, they never dissuaded Nena from establishing her own
scholarship at UST, which has put another three medical students through the program. She has
always tried to help and counsel students striving to become doctors, and, in interviewing and talking to
them, makes sure they know the gravity of being a doctor and the pressure she is constantly under, and
how some personalities just aren’t suited to the profession.
When her husband passed away in 1991, she chastised herself unmercifully for not being able to save
him, as any good doctor would, but then her thoughts turned to protecting her children. Private practice
was also becoming a memory, and she went to work at Franklin Square Hospital, as an employee of a
corporation. MGH was a family to her; FSH was more of a job. During her time of grief, a friend of hers
suggested that she join the Kaycettes, the women’s auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus 9462. The
group gave her another circle of friends to help her through these trying times. She rebounded, would
become the president for one term, and again focused on her lifelong devotion to charity with the group.
The Knights and Kaycettes also formed the Santo Niño Choral Group, which performs several times a
year at masses and carols to also support charitable concerns. In 1996, in honor of her 60th birthday,
Nena’s son Jerry composed a quartet of poems about her entitled Mortal Divinity, which was published
and received universal claim. In her retirement, Nena has concentrated on three things: one: to spend
as much time with her grandchildren as possible, and also for providing for their future; two,
commitment to community charity services; and three, her devotion to God, on making healing
pilgrimages, as well as being involved with Charismatic Renewal, and the Joy in the Spirit of the Lord
Prayer Group.
affected the family profoundly, and from that early age, Nena knew she would become a doctor.
After graduating valedictorian at both Padre Gómez Elementary School— Manila, and Mapa High
School— Manila 1953, she received a scholarship to study Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas.
Nena often jokes that if she had done her college medical training in the States that it would have been
so much easier, because of the resources provided to medical students in America. At one time her
sister Anita had an entire textbook copied because Filipino students did not have the luxury of having
their own books. Although Nena would receive near-perfect marks in biochemistry and neurology, her
ambition was to be a Pediatrician. She graduated “cum laude” from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
of the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas with Meritissimus in Revalida (oral exams). She did pro bono
work at St. Mary’s Hospital Iloilo City and at the Albay Provincial Hospital in 1960- 1961. Within the span
of a decade, the de la Fuente’s went from working any job they could find, to the point where Nena de la
Fuente worked only honest, and sincere man, and she fell in love. It was one dream that came true in
her life that she didn’t quite expect. Once she knew that he was serious about getting married and
starting a family, Nena abandoned her dream of becoming a Pediatrician. Following in the footsteps of
her mentor, Lucy Lesser, she would become an Anesthesiologist.
Her eldest, Glen, was born in 1963. Tragedy struck again in 1964, as her second child, Melissa, died a
few hours after she was born. Thankfully, the rest of her children, Steven (1965), Sharon (1969), and
Jerry (1970), were born perfectly healthy, and had happy childhoods.
The 1970s were the golden age of private practice: Nena moved from St. Joseph’s Hospital back to
Maryland General Hospital. Her profession not only allowed her to fulfill another dream of seeing the
world, it meant that she could give back to her homeland, the people and country that raised and
nurtured her. Although the Philippines may have exported some of their greatest minds of the postwar
generation, these children of the Philippines would send back thousands, even millions of dollars to
support their families and charitable organizations. In 1977, she co-founded the UST Medical Alumni
Foundation of Maryland, and has been a former president. Among its accomplishments, it established
the Maryland Room at the UST Medical Library, has provided many medical scholarships, and now
supports the Lupus program at UST. Her ties to the University have. Despite the financial tensions that
have mounted for seeing their children to school, they never dissuaded Nena from establishing her own
scholarship at UST, which has put another three medical students through the program. She has
always tried to help and counsel students striving to become doctors, and, in interviewing and talking to
them, makes sure they know the gravity of being a doctor and the pressure she is constantly under, and
how some personalities just aren’t suited to the profession.
When her husband passed away in 1991, she chastised herself unmercifully for not being able to save
him, as any good doctor would, but then her thoughts turned to protecting her children. Private practice
was also becoming a memory, and she went to work at Franklin Square Hospital, as an employee of a
corporation. MGH was a family to her; FSH was more of a job. During her time of grief, a friend of hers
suggested that she join the Kaycettes, the women’s auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus 9462. The
group gave her another circle of friends to help her through these trying times. She rebounded, would
become the president for one term, and again focused on her lifelong devotion to charity with the group.
The Knights and Kaycettes also formed the Santo Niño Choral Group, which performs several times a
year at masses and carols to also support charitable concerns. In 1996, in honor of her 60th birthday,
Nena’s son Jerry composed a quartet of poems about her entitled Mortal Divinity, which was published
and received universal claim. In her retirement, Nena has concentrated on three things: one: to spend
as much time with her grandchildren as possible, and also for providing for their future; two,
commitment to community charity services; and three, her devotion to God, on making healing
pilgrimages, as well as being involved with Charismatic Renewal, and the Joy in the Spirit of the Lord
Prayer Group.
What makes Antonia F. Grandea a person of
distinction, is the manner in which she accomplished
her goals, and the common element through all
these endeavors is, in a word, Joy. This is a person,
who truly loves life and living, and this zeal radiates
through everything she does, and through everyone
she meets. No matter what the situation required,
Nena Grandea would make herself equal to the task.
She has never taken anything for granted, and has
always been gracious. Her love of life has gotten her
through many times of sadness and loss, and this
made all her triumphs resound in the memories of
those dearest to her. To accomplish things in this
manner, one has to be a dreamer, and for Nena,
dreams have always put her life into perspective.
She was born Antonia Aguas de la Fuente on July 28,
1936 in Ligao, Albay, Philippines, and the third of four
daughters born to teachers Eusebio and Clara de la
Fuente, a lower middle class couple. During the
World War II, Nena was always sick, and she
remembers chasing the Doctor around all the time
as a seven-year-old and wanting to be a Doctor so
that she could have a penlight. Tragically, there were
distinction, is the manner in which she accomplished
her goals, and the common element through all
these endeavors is, in a word, Joy. This is a person,
who truly loves life and living, and this zeal radiates
through everything she does, and through everyone
she meets. No matter what the situation required,
Nena Grandea would make herself equal to the task.
She has never taken anything for granted, and has
always been gracious. Her love of life has gotten her
through many times of sadness and loss, and this
made all her triumphs resound in the memories of
those dearest to her. To accomplish things in this
manner, one has to be a dreamer, and for Nena,
dreams have always put her life into perspective.
She was born Antonia Aguas de la Fuente on July 28,
1936 in Ligao, Albay, Philippines, and the third of four
daughters born to teachers Eusebio and Clara de la
Fuente, a lower middle class couple. During the
World War II, Nena was always sick, and she
remembers chasing the Doctor around all the time
as a seven-year-old and wanting to be a Doctor so
that she could have a penlight. Tragically, there were
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