Press Release

NAHJ Mourns The Passing of Richard Ramirez

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Rich Ramirez. Rich, a veteran journalist and assistant to the executive editor at the San Jose Mercury News, was found dead in his home in Livermore, California on Wednesday. He was 44.

Ramirez, a member of NAHJ, dedicated many hours to the planning and organization of the 25th Anniversary NAHJ Convention and Career & Media Expo held in downtown San Jose last week. He served as chair of the local planning committee, was considered a key part of some of the logistical planning, and recruited and coordinated the many volunteers on site that helped make the convention a success.

Members of the shocked NAHJ staff who worked closely with Ramirez before and during the convention said he was always at the ready, no matter the task, with no complaints ever crossing his lips. NAHJ President Rafael Olmeda posted the following response on mercurynews.com alongside the many other comments from readers and the San Jose community that learned of his death.

“The last time I saw Rich was Sunday, June 17, the morning after the NAHJ convention in San Jose. Rich walked into the NAHJ board meeting before it started because he wanted to thank the board for giving him the opportunity to volunteer for our cause.

“Imagine that. He took on the role of chairing the local planning committee. He was the ‘logistics chair,’ responsible for making sure everything ran smoothly and that all the pieces of the gigantic planning puzzle fit into a cohesive whole. He was an unsung hero of what was, by all accounts, a successful convention that struck an optimistic tone in an industry that lately has not seen much cause for optimism.

“And there he was, thanking us for the opportunity we gave him. Naturally, we turned the tables and expressed to him our deep appreciation for the hard work he put into making the convention a success. NAHJ staffers later told me that in one short week, he became an integral part of the NAHJ family.

“We lost a fighter in Rich Ramirez. We lost a humble man who sought an opportunity to serve a cause that was greater than himself, greater than his own career. We were fortunate to have known him, and we are heartbroken that he is no longer with us.”

A vigil was held for Ramirez in front of the San Jose Mercury News building on Thursday afternoon. Results of the police investigation of his death are pending.