A journalistic mentor to many and a passionate colleague who championed for social justice, Raul Ramirez died on Nov. 15 in his Berkeley home after a brief battle with esophageal cancer. He was 67.
A friend to El Tecolote who was always eager to coach our writers in the art of reporting, Raul seemed to take special pleasure in working with young people — sharing his insights about the profession and providing tips and advice. So it was natural to see him in a classroom setting at San Francisco State University, U.C Berkeley and City College of San Francisco, eagerly lecturing to journalism students on the role and characteristics of a good journalist.
I take great comfort in having known Raul, who in my early years of publishing El Tecolote, offered a lot of encouragement on the need for an independent voice in our community that championed for social justice. His words still echo in my mind today: “If you ever need my help, Juan, just let me now.”
Up until his death, Raul was executive director of news and public affairs at KQED Public Radio. But his career in journalism began in the 1960s and ‘70s, when he reported for the Miami Herald, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Oakland Tribune and the San Francisco Examiner.
Raul’s social justice reporting emerged during this period when he wrote a prize-winning series for the Wall Street Journal in 1970 about Michigan farm workers after working in the fields alongside them. At the Miami Herald, Raul accompanied undercover agents on raids of suspected heroin dealers and for a San Francisco Examiner article on jail conditions—he even worked several days as a deputy sheriff. Likewise, while at the Examiner he, along with colleague Lowell Bergman, broke a story about a Chinatown gang member who was railroaded into prison by a San Francisco district attorney and two police inspectors.
Raul also championed for diversity in the nation’s newsrooms. In the mid-1990s he was part of a team that conducted a study into the flaws and biases in coverage of ethnic communities.
Born in Havana, Cuba in 1946, Raul and his sister were sent by their parents in 1962 to live with relatives in South Florida. It was there that Raul began to explore journalism as a student at the University of Florida.
During his career, Raul received many honors and recognitions, including a 1989 Penney-Missouri Award as co-editor of the Examiner’s “Gay in America” series and later a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California chapter. He died days before receiving a Distinguished Service to Journalism Award also from the Northern California SPJ chapter.
Raul is survived by his husband, Tony Wu, sister Miriam Gargiulo of West Palm Beach, Fla., and brothers Michael Greenhill of Wellington, Fla. and Eduardo Ramirez of Reddick, Fla.
Before his death, Raul bequeathed $25,000 to create the Raul Ramirez Diversity in Journalism Fund at San Francisco State, which will recognize journalism students whose work promotes diversity. If you wish to honor Raul’s memory contribute to the fund. Checks should be made out to The San Francisco State University Foundation with a notation that the donation is for “The Raul Ramirez Diversity in Journalism Fund.” Mail to Office of University Development, ATTN: Andrea Rouah, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., ADM 153, San Francisco, CA 94132.
There is no doubt in my mind, Raul, that you will long be remembered by the young people you inspired and your colleagues who greatly respected you for your passion and commitment to excellence. El Tecolote and the journalistic community have been touched by the legacy you leave. You will always be in my heart, my friend.
Raul Ramirez, Presente!