Obituary of Enio Roberto Ramos

Enio Roberto (Bob) Ramos October 20, 1934 – March 2, 2021 Devoted and Loving Husband & Father Enio Roberto (Bob) Ramos passed away peacfully on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 although the end of his life was marred by a myriad of health issues.At his bedside were family members who were able to say their good byes upon receipt of his Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Bob was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico in 1934 to Julio Ramos (deceased 1973) and Julia Rivera (deceased 1994). While his parents marriage came to an end it opened up the possibility of his coming to the United States and settling intially in Connecticut and then eventually New York City in Chelsea section of the City. Bob was a great student, a great athlete and a great friend. His cousins who he grew up with Kito, Tony and Eddie were more like brothers. His closest was Eddie who he spent hours playing baseball together. Bob was a devout Brooklyn Dodger fan and lived for days at Ebbets Field to watch his favorites players particularly Jackie Robinson whom he met. It is important to note that sports played a huge part of his life both as a player, spectator and later as a coach for his sons and many, many other children. FYI: favorite musician: Frank Sinatra, Favorite Athlete(s): Tom Seaver, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Two prominent men in his life were his uncles, Jose and Gilberto. Being seperated from his father, he saw in them two male figures who were different in temperament and style but both loving and caring men. He grew up admiring them and caring deeply about their opinion of him as a man. Each served with distinction during World War II, so he knew that if America went to war again, he would not miss it. At the United States entrance to the Korean War, Bob was determined to serve, initially running away to join the Marine Corps. When they discovered his age, they sent him home and on the train ride back from Parris Island, South Carolina, he told his mother if she didn’t sign a permission slip, he would just keep running away. The war would not end without him. She did sign the permission slip and he joined the Army, eventually earning his Advance Infantry badge and then his Paratrooper Badge at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was shipped to Korea, was wounded by a Korean grenade and stayed overseas for the duration of the war. (It was only over the last few years did he share his story of the war experiences) He returned home and worked several jobs, joined the Coast Guard and as fate would have it he was prepared for a career in the service. However, his mother got cancer and he chose to serve in another way, she had given birth to a half sister and he left the service to “serve” her so her husband could remain working at sea as a merchant seaman. And he nursed his mother back to health and took care of his half sister. Upon his mothers return to health he got his Merchant Marine papers and worked on Grace Line Ships, which led him to the greatest gift possible his meeting the love of his life, his wife, Rosabel. They had their first date in Tangiers, as she was working on the ships also as a hair dresser (her career for more than 50 years). Their first date was on his birthday, October 20th of 1964 and they were wed on December 3, 1964. Can you say whirlwind?! Bob knew that now was the time to begin building their life together, and with Rosabel’s son Robert (who Bob felt from day one was his son). They started a life together in Manhattan. He worked for Balfour MacLeanas as a buyer. He was influenced to grow his career and moving up the corporate ladder, he was a junior executive and once again fate stepped in, as his family grew by one with the birth of their other son, Richard. He then made the corporate move which would shape his professional and personal career and that was going to work for Pan American World Airways (Pan Am). Ironically, he chose Pan Am over a lesser known airline named Delta. (but that’s another story altogether). For the next 20+ years he was a buyer, clerk, accountant and finally passanger service agent, all the while serving as a Shop Steward for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He served proudly but when he so the union choosing union interests over employee interests he did what he always did, he spoke his mind. In his inimitable, clear way. There was no gray areas with Bob. Pan Am afforded him great opportunities and he and Rose were a team as they owned a business, bought their homes in Cambria Heights, Oceanside and then eventually Boca Raton, Florida. He went to work at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and worked their until relocating to Tallahassee, Florida where he worked for the State of Florida at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles until his retirement. During this time a new member of the family came in a little, white maltipoo named Romeo who for 16 years became his and Rose’s joy. He was a unique introduction to the often gruff exteriored Bob, and many commented that Romeo came along to smooth over the edges, and boy did he ever. Bob and Rose spent much of their time over their time in Boca and in a good deal of time in Tallahassee cruising the Eastern and Western Caribean and Europe. The topper of their trips was their retirement cruise which was a 28 day transatlantic cruise. Bob’s love for his family stretched across generations and included many of his family and friends. His goddaghter, Jazzy, her brother Cheech, his cousin Jose, his Uncle Tommy, and his cousin Tommy Jr., and his cousin Eddie’s wife Haydee. And so many others who are still here but his life was shaped by his great grandmother Dionicia Lebron (the woman known as Grandma), and his aunts, Luisa, Felicia, Gina, Vickie and Aida. And others who were special in his life like Papi Joe along with cousins Victor and Junior. And he found friends where he went who truly mattered like the McDermott Family particularly Bobby and Tom. Ed LoGatto, The Buckleys of North Florida, Janice Donohue of Boca Raton. Sarah and Justin Kowalevsky along with Derek and Wynne Vokins (his Canadian children was how he referred to them). Each of these people were special to him and made him very happy. And a special note for two very special ladies that came into his life at the same time and held a special place in his heart for Richard’s fiance, Graziella Iacona and Robert’s girlfriend, Luisa Gallardo. In lieu of flowers Bob would have loved a donation to the Disabled American Vetrerans. His wife Rosabel, sons Robert and Richard express sincere thanks for the outpouring of love and good wishes. A Memorial Funeral Mass will be held Friday March 5th at 10:45 am at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY. An Entombment of his ashes will follow at Long Island National Cemetery.