I did not know Joseph well. I have been in the fashion industry during most of my career. I was very fortunate to have worked closely with diverse, creative, and extremely interesting professionals. I lost co-workers in NYC and Philadelphia, who were my good friends, to the tragedy of AIDS. My deepest sympathies go out to Joseph, his family, and friends.
Joseph C. De Ramon
April 7,1951-July 22,1994
Joe died peacefully at his home in San Francisco July 22 after a long, courageous trag¬ gle with AIDS. A native San Franciscan, he grew up in a family of flamenco dance teachers; his parents taught and performed, and his father played the guitar. Although Joe ' " ' looked awful in flamenco dresses, he did play a mean pair of castanets.
Joe loved the redwoods and his cabin in Rio Nido, which he recently transformed into a showplace. Other major passions were roses, Mozart, John Waters’ films and Haagen Daz.
And though Joe was a phone-aholic and would call his friends at all hours, God forbid if any of us called during reruns of Perry Mason or Agatha Christie’s Miss Jane Marple.
Joe is survived by his beloved com¬ panion, Stephen; his stepfather, Brian; his brother, Richard; and many friends - all of whom will remember his off¬ beat humor and phone pranks.
Services will be held at Driscoll’s Mortuary: a vigil Friday evening, July 29, and a rosary on Saturday. Please contact Driscoll’s (826-6300, 1096 S. Van Ness Ave.) for times. A gathering at Dennis Hoffman’s house (328 25th Ave., 386-5073) follows the Saturday service.
Donations should be made to the Save-the-Redwoods-League, 114 Sansome St., Room 605, San Francisco, CA 94104.
Thanks Raoul for this information about Joe. It was a sad day when I learned of his passing some time later. We met via mutual friend Yas Takenaka (who now lives in Guam where he practices dentistry-encouraged him to sign-in) and continued friendship through City College and beyond. He was on our prank Students For Reform (SFR) ticket for political office at City College along with Lance Cochrane. We picked up 100+ votes w/o a campaign!
I knew Joe DeRamon well. He was a sensitive soul with great insight. He let me live in his family's vacation home in Rio Nido on the Russian River while I attended Sonoma State. The name of the house was "casa flamenca." I think his dad taught Spanish dancing in the studio they owned in San Francisco. I suspected he may have died from HIV. For many reasons he deserves a special place in my heart.
I miss Joe all the time. Drove me to school- every day! His friendsip got me thru those years.
kept in contact and was great to hug him goodbye. He has a bench at the SF AIDS memorial in GG park on an older overgron path. Our 'date' was the reunions . Good to remember my friend.
Shelborne Fung (1968)
From Lance Cochran:
One heck of a great guy.
Carolyn Gleason (Cox) (1969)
i remember Joe well, great guy
Raoul Gruenberg (1969)
I did not know Joseph well. I have been in the fashion industry during most of my career. I was very fortunate to have worked closely with diverse, creative, and extremely interesting professionals. I lost co-workers in NYC and Philadelphia, who were my good friends, to the tragedy of AIDS. My deepest sympathies go out to Joseph, his family, and friends.
Joseph C. De Ramon
Ronald Justin Jr Bowerman (1969)
Thanks Raoul for this information about Joe. It was a sad day when I learned of his passing some time later. We met via mutual friend Yas Takenaka (who now lives in Guam where he practices dentistry-encouraged him to sign-in) and continued friendship through City College and beyond. He was on our prank Students For Reform (SFR) ticket for political office at City College along with Lance Cochrane. We picked up 100+ votes w/o a campaign!
Frank Brunings (1969)
I knew Joe DeRamon well. He was a sensitive soul with great insight. He let me live in his family's vacation home in Rio Nido on the Russian River while I attended Sonoma State. The name of the house was "casa flamenca." I think his dad taught Spanish dancing in the studio they owned in San Francisco. I suspected he may have died from HIV. For many reasons he deserves a special place in my heart.
Margaret Alice Kerr (Burke) (1969)
I miss Joe all the time. Drove me to school- every day! His friendsip got me thru those years.
kept in contact and was great to hug him goodbye. He has a bench at the SF AIDS memorial in GG park on an older overgron path. Our 'date' was the reunions . Good to remember my friend.