AGUSTIN A. RAMIREZ

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AGUSTIN RAMIREZ Obituary

RAMIREZ, AGUSTIN A., LTC US Army Retired, passed away peacefully the evening of April 18, 2011 after complications arising from a fall while playing golf several weeks earlier. The "Colonel" was born in Puerto Rico in 1917 and spent his elementary school years in New York City. His father returned to Puerto Rico during the Depression where Ramirez went to high school and University. A three sport athlete, Ramirez held track records in Puerto Rico for over ten years. He graduated from college with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering and joined the US Army as a Second Lieutenant Infantry officer in 1940. Ramirez served on active duty for over twenty years, was a veteran of the Second World War and the Korean War and spent four years in combat duty. He was a highly decorated soldier and received amongst many others the Bronze Star, the European-African- Mediterranean Campaign Medals, the Korean War Service Medal, and eight overseas bars. He served seven years in overseas duty. In 1960, Ramirez retired to Miami, Florida and became a certified teacher after attending the University of Miami. He taught high school for twenty years and served as a language department head at Miami Springs High School for the majority of that time. Twenty years ago, Col. Gus and Gloria moved to LaGrange to be close to his daughter, Ruby, and her family and also close to Ft. Benning where he served for six years. He was a member of the LaGrange Country Club where he enjoyed playing golf until shortly before his death, often shooting his age or better. Survivors include his bride of sixty nine years, Gloria A. Ramirez, and sister, Eva Ramirez Leon of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is also survived by two daughters, Maria (Ruby) Eickhoff of LaGrange and husband Henry Eickhoff, and Kathleen Rambo and husband Virgil Rambo, and a son, Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. and wife Rebecca. Grandchildren include Stacy Carnall, Jennifer Edmondson, Jim Rambo, Michelle Entrop, Austin Ramirez, Abby Ramirez and Anna Ramirez. Great grandchildren include David Rambo, Jessica Rambo, Travis Entrop, Michael Entrop, Riley Carnall, and Claire Carnall. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church at 2:00 PM Saturday the 23rd of April. Interment will be at Ft. Benning at 10:30 AM the 25th of April. Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636 www.shlagrange.com View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.

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Published by the Miami Herald on Apr. 22, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for AGUSTIN RAMIREZ

8 Entries

Mary Ann (Blasco) Page

August 8, 2011

Having just heard of "the Colonel's" passing, may I offer my condolences to his family at this time and ditto the admiration and sheer joy he brought to his students over the years at both Miami Springs schools. One of my all-time favorites, he helped form my decision to pursue teaching as a career that lasted 36 years in Miami schools. Congratulations on a life lived to the fullest and inspiration shared with those fortunate to be under your tutelage. ¡Mil gracias, Sr. Ramirez!

Elaine Wilco

May 6, 2011

The Colonel, as we always called him, was one of those teachers you never forget. He was my Spanish teacher for 3 years at Miami Springs Sr. High from 1964 - 1967 and the sponsor of the Spanish National Honor Society. Underneath his stern demeanor, he was a lot of fun, and enjoyed being teased as well as teasing his students. I remember how, because of his accent, we always tried to get him to say "beach" (hoping to get what in those days was a naughty word), but he always stuck to "la playa". We always thought he would go on forever, and in some ways, he has. Vaya con dios...

George Senke

April 30, 2011

I am truly sorry to hear of the loss of one of my most memorable teachers. He taught me Spanish at Miami Springs Senior High School from 1967-1969. I am pleased to hear that he had a long and eventful life.

Neal Sanders

April 25, 2011

I had the pleasure to have Col. Ramirez for five years as my Spanish instructor. He remains, nearly half a century later, one of the two or three most memorable teachers of my life. Our first meeting was in the fall of 1962 at Miami Springs Junior High School and it was not auspicious. My Spanish, such as it was, was picked up from the Cuban refugees who had recently flooded Miami. Col. Ramirez spoke – and demanded from his students – the learned Castilian Spanish of his upbringing. Each time I would say ‘jo voy’ he would call me a ‘knucklehead’, and it became my alternate name in his class for years afterward. (As an aside, it was in his Spanish II class a year later that we first heard of the assassination of John F. Kennedy; the look on his face was one of personal loss.)

In 1964, Colonel Ramirez followed us to the then-new Miami Spring Senior High, a familiar face in an unfamiliar venue. His teaching methods did not change. He demanded much and, when we met his standards, he did not stint in his praise. His style was also personal: in an era before political correctness rendered such familiarity taboo, the girls of our class were ‘que bella’ or ‘muy linda’. One was ‘la rubia bomba’ – the blonde bombshell. His skills as an educator faltered only once when, in my senior year, he attempted to introduce me to the glorious language of Ortega y Gasset. I was not ready to comprehend liberal philosophy in any language.

He was an extraordinary may who touched many lives for the better. Regardless of the reason he chose to make his second career one of an educator, I am a better person for those five years. Thank you, Col. Ramirez.

Carol Immerfall-Fralick

April 22, 2011

I am truly sorry for your loss. Mr. Ramirez was a great teacher. I have often thought of him and wanted to thank him for giving me a gift, the gift of Spanish, but didn't know how to reach him. I became fluent and have used Spanish throughout my life and will always be grateful to him because of this. I know he would have been proud to know that he helped change my life. I became a teacher myself. Although I was an English teacher, I used my Spanish to help ESOL students learn to speak, read, and write English. I continue to communicate with my Argentine exchange family in Spanish. I couldn't have done this without the Colonel. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

April 22, 2011

Col. Ramirez was my favorite teacher in High School (Miami Springs Sr. High). He was a very proud veteran and a gentle giant to his students, always inspiring us to do better. I remember him fondly and along with his family mourn the passing of a very great man.

Kathleen Robertson Yates, Miami Springs, Fl

Familia Pavon

April 22, 2011

nuestras mas sinceras condolencias por la muerte de su ser querido; que el Dios de amor les de la fortaleza para soportar su gran perdida; esperamos que las palabras de Rev 21:4,5 les sean de esperanza: "Y limpiara (Jehova) toda lagrima de sus ojos, y la muerte no sera mas, ni existira mas lamento ni clamor ni dolor. Las cosas anteriores han pasado." ...Y Aquel que estaba sentado en el trono dijo:.."Escribe, porque estas palabras son fieles y verdaderas".

Charlene Saylor Magee

April 22, 2011

So sorry to hear of his passing. He was one of my favorite teachers in high school, always with a joke or a tease. I have thought of him so many times over the years.

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