Though life threw curveballs at Albert “Big Al” Ramirez, he never let it keep him down.
Mr. Ramirez died peacefully at his home in Wilmington on Dec. 1, 2013, with his mother and sister at his side. He was 48.
He graduated from Goshen Central High School, in Goshen, N.Y. in 1983. In high school he was a wrestler, track star and football all-star who drew the attention of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After passing the rigorous academic and physical exams, he was declined admission due to his hearing loss.
Ultimately he received a football scholarship to California State College in Pennsylvania and was the only freshman to make the varsity football team that year. In November 1983, his kidneys failed due to Alport syndrome, a rare hereditary disease, so Mr. Ramirez returned home to Goshen and awaited a kidney transplant.
He received his transplant in 1990 and that same year competed in the Transplant Olympics where he was awarded the Bronze Medal for shot put, by Olympic track star Carl Lewis. He went on to acquire his stockbroker’s license and worked as a broker on Wall Street until 1995, when his kidney rejected and failed.
In 1998, Mr. Ramirez moved to Wilmington where he resumed his studies, majoring in History and English at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He maintained a 4.0 grade point average and made the Dean’s and President’s list every year. He would have graduated in May of 2014.
On Sept. 7, 2013, Mr. Ramirez was honored by being inducted into the Goshen Football Hall of Fame. That glorious Saturday afternoon at the Goshen High football field, surrounded by his teammates, friends and family meant more to him than anyone imagined. He returned to Wilmington filled with pride and deep gratitude for the honor and love expressed at the ceremony and party that followed that evening. It was the highlight of his last thirty years and we are eternally grateful he was healthy enough to make the trip to Goshen for the celebration.
He loved Goshen, the Miami Dolphins, chocolate, AC/DC, reading, Yankees baseball, listening to Audra McDonald, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and James Taylor, sleek sports cars, good New York pizza, long hot showers, Dunkin’ Donuts and most importantly, his family and friends.
Mr. Ramirez was born in Suffern, N.Y. on April 2, 1965. He is survived by his mother, Yvonne Carol Boutelle; sister, Maxelle Patricia Boutelle; half-sister, Desiree O’Neill; four nephews; aunt, Suzanne Medenbach and her husband, Erich; uncle, Paul Boutelle and his wife, Maryanne; six aunts; and 11 cousins.
In early April of 2014, we will have a memorial service at St. John’s in Goshen, and a celebration of Mr. Ramirez’s life at Delancey’s in Goshen. Further information will be available on Al’s Facebook page, by clicking here, or you may email [email protected].
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations in Mr. Ramirez’s name to: The Alport Syndrome Foundation.
Please share memories and condolences with the family online at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
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