The Hudson Valley community is in mourning after police believe a car crash took the life of Eddie Ramirez Sr., a pillar of the Hudson Valley's Latino community.
"My father was the most caring person that I've ever met. He had the biggest heart," said Eddie Ramirez Jr. "He cared for his family; he cared for his community."
A former state corrections officer and Vietnam War veteran, they called Edwin, "Eddie" Ramirez Sr., or "The Bulldog", a name he affectionately earned for his tireless work on behalf of his family and community.
What You Need To Know
- Eddie Ramirez Sr., and his wife, Norma Ramirez, started a series of Latino cultural festivals throughout the Hudson Valley
- In 1999, they founded the Hudson Valley Latino Scholarship program, and have awarded 151 high school students with scholarships since then
- Eddie Ramirez Sr. was a Vietnam War veteran and state corrections officer
"He was just that type of personality where, if something needed to be done, he made sure it got done," said his wife, Norma Ramirez.
When he, Norma, and their sons moved to the Hudson Valley in the 1990s, they realized something was missing.
"When we came in 1994, there was really no Spanish restaurants, nowhere to really go for some cultural diversity," said Norma Ramirez.
So Eddie Ramirez Sr., did something about it. He founded the R & M Promotions Latino Festival Series, bringing a celebration of Latino culture, dance, food, and music to the Hudson Valley.
"He loved the festivals because so many people came together to just have fun and listen to salsa music," said Norma Ramirez. "He would go on stage with the bands and perform with them and sing with them and dance on stage, and there was not a happier moment. He really, really enjoyed that."
Eddie and Norma Ramirez raised thousands of dollars at the festivals for another passion close to their heart: the Hudson Valley Latino Scholarship Program. Since they founded the scholarship in 1999, they've awarded scholarships to 151 Latino high school students.
"We just gave them a lot of love and a lot of attention. We patted them on the back and we gave them our blessing. We sent them out to be the leaders we knew they could be," said Norma Ramirez.
There’s a missing piece in the Ramirez family now that he’s gone, but his impact on the community will continue on.
"I think every time that we write a scholarship check, or meet a student, he's going to be right there with us, because he was so passionate about this," said Norma Ramirez.
If you would like to donate to the Hudson Valley Latino Scholarship Program in Eddie Ramirez Sr.’s honor, click here.