John Joseph Ramaska

1947 - 2024

John Joseph Ramaska passed away on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 surrounded by his family.

John was born on Oct. 24, 1947 to Joseph and Anne (Rakosky) Ramaska. He spent his childhood in Methuen. His mother passed away when he was 10, and he was raised by his father and his older sister, Joanne. John graduated from Tenney High School in 1965 where he served as vice president of his senior class. He ran track and cross country and served as lieutenant colonel for the Cadet Corps in his senior year. He was also voted 'Most Likely to Succeed' in his senior year.

After high school, John attended the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he graduated in 1969. It was at UMass that he met his future wife, Janice (Jan) Haas. When he graduated college, John joined the Peace Corp and went to Malaysia to teach for two years. Upon returning to the United States, he and Jan married and moved to New Hampshire where they both started careers as teachers - John in Salem, NH teaching middle school science for over 30 years.

John and Jan had two children, Amy and James (Jim). John and Jan instilled a love of the outdoors in their children. The dedication was real, often driving hours in order to hike or ski for 30 minutes when the children were very little. The family eventually bought a cabin in the White Mountains to serve as a base camp for their local adventures. As the children got older, the camping trips got longer, eventually heading up to Canada each summer.

John was always up for an adventure, and as his children became interested in rock climbing, ice climbing, and winter hiking, John dove in with both feet scaling Cathedral Ledge in the summer and Mount Washington in the winter. John tackled being a Grampa with the same enthusiasm. He was the proud Grampa to four grandchildren: Everly and Leo (children of Jim and his wife, Lauren), and Adam and Henry (children of Amy and her husband, Craig). He was always ready to chase them, swim with them, watch their sports, and teach them about the world around them - anything to spend time with them.

The adventure continued into retirement where each trip was a different version of 'Jan and John's Excellent Adventure.' Over the years they frequented many State Parks and National Parks as they crisscrossed the country in their RoadTrek. When he wasn't traveling or spending time with his children and grandchildren, John could be found in his yard, maintaining his gardens.

John has left an impression on everyone he has met throughout his life, from his classmates who voted him 'Most Likely to Succeed' to the students he taught to his friends and family. His family will remember him every time they walk through a garden or a forest, every time they make a campfire or hike a mountain, and every time they give a witty comeback or entertain their curiosity about the natural world around them.

As John would have preferred a more intimate gathering with his family, we will come together at the cabin to make campfires, eat, drink, laugh, and swap stories (and tears) in his honor.

For those who wish, the family suggests memorial donations be made in John's name to:

Home Health and Hospice Care of NH, https://www.hhhc.org/how-to-help/memorial-gifts/

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift