Statement on the Passing of Juan F. Ramos Jr., Former Philadelphia City Councilmember, and Longtime Puerto Rican Community Leader
The family of long-time community leader and former City Councilman Juan F. Ramos, Jr. regrets sharing that Juan passed away at his home on Saturday, July 22, 2023, from Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 71.
Juan Ramos served on Philadelphia City Council as an At Large Member from 2004 to 2008. A true servant-leader, Juan was one of Philadelphia’s earliest “home-grown” Puerto Rican activists and leaders and a founder of institutions that proved timely and critical to the Latino community history in Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Chapter of the Young Lords, the Puerto Rican Alliance, and Centro Pedro Claver.
Juan was an ordained Catholic Deacon, a member of Laborers’ Local 332, a reliable ally, a generous neighbor, and had unwavering faith in the potential of Philadelphia, its people, its athletes, and even its professional sports teams. He is survived by his wife, Ana Sostre-Ramos, daughters Alicia Ruiz and Anita Ramos, son Andres Ramos-Cuadrado; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and four siblings (Elsa Ramos, Gladys Ramos-Colon, Jose Ramos, and Pedro Ramos).
Services will be held on Monday, July 31, at St. Peter the Apostle Church at 1019 N. 5th Street in Philadelphia, with a viewing starting at 9:00 am and a Mass at 11:30 am, followed by interment at Greenmount Cemetery, 4301 North Front Street, Phila., PA 19140.
