Dan Ramos dies; former state rep remembered for service, advocacy and wit

LORAIN — Former state Rep. Dan Ramos died Saturday. Ramos, 41, was remembered by friends and family Monday as far more than a political pundit, but a man who cared deeply for his city, and the people around him. The cause of Ramos' death has not been released. Lorain County Board of Elections Director Paul Adams had been personal friends with Ramos for nearly 20 years. He said he was overwhelmed when he got a call from Ramos' father on Saturday. "He was a true community leader, an advocate for Lorain," Adams said. "Someone who provided a voice to those people in our community that needed a voice. But most of all, he was my friend, and he was a friend to so many people." Ramos started his political career working on his father's campaigns for the Lorain Board of Education, and from there continued with University Senate at The Ohio State University before moving to statewide roles. It was through Lorain County Young Democrats that Adams and Ramos met, Adams said. In 2004, Adams took over the presidency of the organization and asked Ramos if he'd like to be vice president. From there, the pair traveled to state and national meetings, building their friendship along the way. When Ramos went to Columbus to serve as an aid to state Rep. Joe Koziura, D-Lorain, or a policy analyst in Democratic speaker of the House Armond Budish's office, they always met up and kept that friendship going. "He's one of those friends that … when things get stressful or things get difficult to deal with and you just want to call somebody up and have a beer with them," Adams said. "That was the kind of person Dan was." And when Ramos ran in 2010 to fill Koziura's state representative seat, Adams, and other friends from Lorain County, supported their longtime friend. "He was somebody that genuinely understood the intricate workings of the legislature and how to get things done, or how to stop things if he didn't want them," Adams said. "But he got that because of all the experience he had before he was even there because he was also a page in the Ohio House. So he had spent a good amount of time learning about the House before he was a state representative." Ramos served as a state representative from 2011 to 2018. Max Schaefer, executive director of Main Street Lorain, met Ramos about 10 years ago, he said, remembering him as the first local candidate he canvased for in Lorain. "He was extremely funny," Schaefer said. "He was probably one of the most quick-witted people I'm friends with. He always had something snappy and perfect if you mentioned something. … If I said something to Paul in a text message thread, Dan would jump right in on it and add to it" That quick wit often made nods to Ramos' Puerto Rican and Polish heritage, Schaefer said. Like Adams, he reminisced on the long weekends their friend group would spend at Put-in-Bay. Those trips became a staple for a group of young politicians who grew to be an extended family, said Lorain Councilman Cory Shawver, D-at Large. Those trips started when the Jet Express used to leave out of Lorain, Amherst Councilman Brian Dembinski said. "He was always making somebody laugh, always acting goofy but in a good way," Dembinski said. They'd found a shared interest in "Star Trek," Dembinski said. Meanwhile, Schaefer remembered going to concerts and comedy shows with Ramos many times. Shawver looked back on an annual Risk night every Black Friday, and many a Dyngus Day spent in Gordon Square. Ramos' friends remembered his help professionally and personally over the years they'd known him and were still in shock as the news of his passing began circulating through the community. "I feel like I'm incredibly lucky that he was as close of a personal friend to me," Schaefer said. "A lot of people know him — you know people from politics because you're involved … but Paul and Dan are two of my closest friends. And I just feel lucky that I got to spend 10 years with him." Lorain County Democratic Chairwoman Sharon Sweda said the entire party was shocked and saddened to hear of Ramos' passing. "The party is already feeling that void," she said. Ramos' sister, Diane, said in a statement that her brother "spent his life and career striving to make a difference in the lives of others, and he was truly honored to serve the community he loved." She said the family is grateful for the outpouring of support the family has received from those who knew Ramos. "He was our Danny — caring, smart, funny, lovable Danny," she said. "He was a part of our world that will never be replaced, and we will love and miss him forever." A viewing is scheduled at Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, from 4-8 p.m. Friday. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish of Lorain, 418 W. 15th St. in Lorain. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A full paid obituary is expected to be in the Chronicle-Telegram on Wednesday, as well as at gluvnashimohromada.com. Reporter Dave O'Brien contributed to this story. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.