Ed Ramirez fell in love with Morristown the moment he arrived from Los Angeles in 1982.
“I thought I was on a movie set,” he recounted in 2011. “It was such a quiet little town, with so many nice people. And I’ve been thinking those same thoughts all the time I’ve been here.”
Ramirez was remembered with similar affection by friends around Morristown after his unexpected passing on Tuesday morning. He was 67.
“He was the best friend anybody could have, a real loyal guy… and a true gentleman,” Morris County Republican Chairman John Sette said of his longtime pal, who served for years as Morristown’s GOP chairman.
Ramirez, a veteran of two Army tours in Vietnam, remained “an eternal optimist” always ready to lend a hand, Sette said.
“If you had a broken water pipe flooding out your basement, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get it fixed.'”
“He was a true patriot who loved his family, his country, his party and Morristown,” said Frank Vitolo, Morristown’s present Republican chairman.
Finding GOP votes in Morristown — a Democratic island in Republican Morris County — is no easy task. The fact that Ramirez, who held conservative views on immigration and gun control, chose to stay suggests his deep feelings for the town.
A prolific writer of letters to the editor — on MorristownGreen.com and in local newspapers–Ramirez never was shy about speaking his mind. He made his points forcefully and passionately, and opponents respected that.
“I will miss Ed deeply,” said Mayor Tim Dougherty, a Democrat who differed sharply with Ramirez about the Speedwell Avenue redevelopment, affordable housing and traffic planning.
“Ed and I always came to the middle when it came to Morristown. We always knew it was Morristown first, and everything else came second. He was very dedicated to the town of Morristown,” he said.
The Mayor offered condolences to the Ramirez family from he and his wife Mary Dougherty, who served with Ramirez on the Morristown Housing Authority.
‘LET’S THINK ABOUT EVERYONE’
Ramirez was a write-in candidate in the 2011 primary and ran for council, losing to Democrat Stefan Armington in the Third Ward.
During that race, he spoke of hiring more police, while voicing concerns that high property taxes would force long-time residents to leave.
Ramirez speaks at 8:00 in this candidates forum from 2011.
At the time he also criticized the mayor and council for reducing the affordable housing obligation for a 268-apartment complex, now nearing completion on Early Street as the first phase of a massive redevelopment proposed for the Speedwell Avenue area.
Ramirez accused town officials of “de facto segregation” for concentrating affordable housing in the Second Ward, where many minorities live.
Ed Ramirez questions redevelopment and affordable housing policies in 2011.
“Every sociologist today will tell you it’s better to spread out those low-income houses, so the people who live in them will have social contact with other people,” he said at a council meeting, where he also questioned town plans to address snarled traffic at the intersection of Speedwell and Spring Street.
“Let’s think about all our citizens,” Ramirez said. “Let’s not think about bringing some more wealthy people to live in fine, wealthy neighborhoods. Let’s think about everyone.”
Ramirez tried to practice what he preached, according to Alison Deeb, the council’s only Republican.
“Ed took the time to call me on my cell phone after my mother died,” Deeb said. “It was a difficult time for me and we talked for 20 minutes. I saw a side to Ed I hadn’t seen before and while Ed may have had a tough exterior to some, he sure had a big heart.”
The last time they spoke, Deeb said, Ramirez inquired about his chances of getting reappointed to the housing authority.
‘THE ONLY REPUBLICAN IN EAST L.A.’
Edward R Ramirez was born in Los Angeles, to Evelyn Faux Ramirez of Coolangatta, Australia, and Victor Ramirez, a Mexican immigrant.
“Ed said he was the only Republican in East Los Angeles,” John Sette said.
Ramirez served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. He was honored for his service by the Memorial Day and Veterans Day Association of Morristown and Morris Township in 2010.
He was a frequent guest on the local radio roundtable Your New Jersey Connection,
talking politics. He also was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, a community service organization.
Ramirez started his career at the Pacific Telephone Company in California, transferring to New Jersey in 1982 to work for AT&T, according to his obituary.
After retiring from the phone company, he worked for Morris County, large telecommunications construction companies and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. His last job was with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, where he was employed at the end of his life.
Ramirez died surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife, Christina. They would have celebrated their 30th anniversary in July 2015.
Survivors also include his children, John Ramirez (Heather) of Rockaway Township; daughter DeAnna Ramirez of Point Richmond, CA; step-daughter Jaime Mangine Ogden (John) of Orchard City, CO; granddaughters Nicole Ramirez (residing with Ed and Christina) of Morristown and Jessica Ramirez of Morris Township; sisters Dorothy Ramirez of Los Angeles, CA, and Sylvia Karpowitz of Orem, UT; brother Rudy Ramirez of Los Angeles, CA; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved pup, Marley.
A wake will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Doyle Funeral Home, 106 Maple Ave., Morristown. The funeral service is scheduled for 11 am on Friday, Oct. 3, at Saint Margaret of Scotland Church, Sussex Avenue, Morristown.
Condolences to Ed’s family. One of few that spoke sincerely and honestly without any intention of self gain. It was always about the citizens and their concern first. The citizens of our community respected that.
Ed was always passionate about his family, country,and Morristown. While you may not have agreed with him on some issues, you always knew where he stood. A true patriot!