When it came to efforts to help Atlanta's Hispanic and business communities, Sara González was usually in the middle of it.

The president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was an outspoken advocate for Hispanic entrepreneurs and grew the Hispanic chamber from 172 members in 1996 — when she took over as president — to about 1,500 last year.

RENEE' HANNANS HENRY/STAFF (ENLARGE)

Sara González saw the membership of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce grow from 172 members in 1996 – the year she took over as president – to about 1,500 last year.

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Ms. González moved to Atlanta in 1975, having fled Cuba and Fidel Castro's regime in 1960. She died of a heart attack Monday night. She was 72.

Ms. González did not know before she died that Castro resigned his position Monday night as president of the island nation after nearly 50 years in power.

"I know she would have loved that," said her daughter Isabel González. "But she also would have been very dubious about what it meant."

Always stylishly dressed, and wearing notable necklaces, Ms. González was conscious of her position as a woman in what she saw as a man's business world.

The former runway model wore Christian Dior's creations during her youth when the designer held shows in Havana, her daughter said.

Last year, Ms. González's stature as a senior citizen with energy and drive won her a $10,000 prize from Civic Ventures.

The organization awards prizes to Americans over age 60 who have taken innovative approaches to social problems.

Ms. González won for founding the Hispanic American Center for Economic Development, an incubator for Hispanic-operated businesses she started in 2001.

In describing her work, Ms. González said: "I used to see myself as the female version of Johnny Appleseed. I threw a lot of seeds out there. It took a while, but they started growing."

Sora McFarlane, a friend of 20 years, said Ms. González was an inspiration to other Latina women.

"She would say, 'We are strong and we are women, and we can do it!'" Ms. McFarlane said.

Ms. González had decided recently to retire from her chamber of commerce post this year and looked forward to traveling. She had plans to rent a house in Tuscany, Ms. McFarlane said, and had invited friends to come and visit her.

Only three weeks ago, Ms. González had moved into a condo in Buckhead and adopted a long-haired Chihuahua named Lola.

Survivors include three children and two grandchildren.

The body will be cremated. A memorial service is planned for Friday at 2 p.m. at the Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church.