Posted on 02/08/2005 11:56:20 AM PST by B4Ranch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Sat, Feb. 05, 2005
U.S. ambassador, Mexican heiress to wed
BY LENNOX SAMUELS The Dallas Morning News
MEXICO CITY - (KRT) - It could qualify as the raw material for one of those romantic movies starring J. Lo and one of her leading men, say Ralph Fiennes or Richard Gere or, dare we say, Ben Affleck.
A highly eligible American expatriate is smitten with a citizen of the country where he's based, after meeting the glamorous divorcee at a power dinner. Business and diplomacy postpone the onset of romance, because, well, he's the U.S. ambassador and she's a billionaire heiress to a beer-company fortune.
After two years of chance encounters at other social events, they meet for lunch. One more business trip intervenes, but finally, WHAM! Love at first kiss, to quote the lady.
And the Academy Award would be for best "original screenplay," for this is a true story.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza is engaged to marry one of Mexico's richest women, Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala, vice chairwoman of Grupo Modelo, the maker of Corona and Negra Modelo beers.
Aramburuzabala's grandfather arrived as a penniless Basque immigrant from Spain who co-founded the brewery in 1925. Grupo Modelo now ranks among the 10 largest beer companies in the world, with annual sales of about $4 billion. Corona is the No. 1 imported beer in the United States. Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. owns a large non-controlling stake in the Mexican company.
Mariasun, as Aramburuzabala is called, is worth an estimated $1.5 billion and ranks 377th among the world's billionaires, according to Forbes magazine.
Garza is a second-generation American whose four grandparents were from Mexico. He holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. President Bush appointed him ambassador in 2002.
He received the Southern Methodist University School of Law's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. Hispanic Business Magazine has twice named him one of its "Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics."
She has two sons from a previous marriage. He has not been married. They plan to wed in a religious ceremony in the next three months.
The announcement from the U.S. embassy earlier this week was terse, but Garza, 45, and Aramburuzabala, 42, elaborated on their plans in an e-mail:
Q: How did you meet?
Mariasun: I met him shortly after he arrived in Mexico at a dinner he hosted in honor of Kevin Rollins, CEO of Dell. During the following two years we met at different social events and always enjoyed each other's conversation. It was not until I saw him again ... guess where? YES! At another dinner he hosted for Kevin, that we started dating. He asked me for my e-mail but it took us more than a month to set a date to meet for lunch.
We finally did, but shortly after, I left for New York on a business trip. During that trip we talked on the phone for hours every night. Every morning he would call early to wish me a good day. I found in Tony an intelligent, down to earth, warm person, and I started to fall in love with the man I had met so often before, but had never really gotten to know.
Tony: Boy, she tells it well.
Q: Was it love at first sight?
Mariasun: Since two years went by before we started dating, I don't think we could say it was love at first sight, but how about LOVE AT FIRST KISS?
Q: What qualities of the ambassador's made you fall in love with him?
Mariasun: In the beginning I discovered his most obvious traits: His outgoing and pleasant character accompanied by a bright mind. (I don't like stupid men!) Soon I learned about the great love he has for his family, the strength of his convictions and spiritual values and his unbreakable loyalty to friends. I admire his always friendly, unpretentious, respectful attitude toward people, whether wealthy or poor, whether he knew them or not. He was always attentive, making me feel important and included. I fell in love with his tenderness and warmth.
Q: Will you stay on as ambassador, Mr. Garza?
Tony: I serve at the pleasure of the president, a man I admire, respect and feel strongly about. I'm enjoying the job and would like to think that I'm making a difference, and as long as the president will allow me to serve, I'll be here.
Q: What will this marriage do to U.S.-Mexico relations?
Tony and Mariasun: In the past decades our countries have become more and more intertwined not only economically but also culturally. We're not sure how our personal relationship could play any role, but we surely want to see the bilateral relationship strengthen and grow so that both countries benefit from it.
Q: What about your career, Mr. Ambassador?
Tony: I love Texas and I love public service. Let's just say that my heart will always remain in the Great State. But right now my focus is on serving President Bush as ambassador in Mexico.
Q: Ms. Aramburuzabala, what will you do after the wedding?
Tony: Mariasun is a successful, strong, independent businesswoman, and I would expect and hope to see that continue. It would have been easy for her to sit back and, as she says, eat popcorn and watch the television. But she has chosen a career. She is a great role model for businesswomen, not only for Latinas, but businesswomen generally.
Q: What type of wedding will you have?
Tony and Mariasun: We plan to have a wedding with the people we love, family, friends and those who have been there for us in important moments in our lives.
Q: Will you be serving Modelo beer at the wedding?
Mariasun: Are there any other beers?
Q: Where will you live? Will you remodel the official ambassadorial residence?
Mariasun: We still don't know, but if it is in the Residence, I wouldn't change much. Tony has worked hard to add his own personal touch in making the lines of the house and the decoration look cleaner. Plus he has added a great art collection. I think I just would add personal details to make the house feel like a home, our home.
Q: Ms. Aramburuzabala, people have talked about your money ...
Mariasun: Love is not about money.
---
© 2005, The Dallas Morning News.
Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
Countdown to number of posts before someone jokes about Kerry being ticked off about letting this heiress get away. Tick, tick, tick ;-)
I'll bet she does!
At least she won't have to hike across the desert to get to the "Land of the Freebies"
Hmmm...beer heiress!
every time i hear the name ben afleck, i think of the duck.
LOL. Homer's dream woman, for sure!
And Tom Cruise dropped Penelope Cruz for this woman.
Hey, for that kinda money, I'd ____ her...
Sounds like he's running for something. Excellent .... from what I hear Garza is a good guy.
HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN
Compliment her,
cuddle her,
kiss her,
caress her,
love her,
stroke her,
tease her,
comfort her,
protect her,
hug her,
hold her,
spend money on her,
wine & dine her,
buy things for her,
listen to her,
care for her,
stand by her,
support her,
go to the ends of the earth for her....
HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN
Show up naked.
.... with Beer
"I knew that Maddy was really into me when I got back to my hotel room and noticed she had left an extra mint on the pillow."
By golly Smithy, I do believe you found the recipe for a great relationship.
Works for me. ;-)
I'm not a Brit and I do not like warm beer.
Pity the poor schmuck that not only missed out on his dream job, but when his "someone special" shows up naked, she brings ketchup.
; )
Is she heiress to the famed "Jeinz" fortune?
Instant security clearance downgrade.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.