Private First Class Felipe Ramirez’s young life was cut short while riding his motorcycle two weeks ago when he was struck by an alleged drunk driver. His family and friends were devastated, but last week they came together to say that his generous, passionate spirit will live on, and to celebrate his influence on their lives.
After Ramirez, 27, was laid to rest in Ridgefield Cemetery this Monday, his family and friends returned to his parent’s house in Guttenberg.
“His funeral was exactly the way he would have wanted it to go,” said Niraj Chhabra, a friend of 17 years. “It was a celebration of his life. We went to his house, and it just became a big pool party. All of us wearing our suits, even his parents, they jumped in…that’s what we did every Fourth of July.”
His brother Johnny Restrepo said July 4th was Ramirez’s favorite holiday, and that was the last time his family saw him. Ramirez had been stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C. for the last year and a half since enlisting in the Army.
“His focus was never on himself, it was always on the person right next to him.” – Jason Botcher
________
“He wouldn’t stop talking about how happy he was that he had a chance to go and help people over there and how he wanted to make the Army a career,” said Restrepo.
Restrepo drove his brother back to North Carolina after his visit home. On that drive, Ramirez said he wanted to buy a motorcycle and ride again. Restrepo questioned his brother on why he would do that when he was so close to his deployment.
He said that his brother never drank and drove.
Drunk driver allegedly caused accident
Ramirez was struck by a vehicle in the early morning hours of Aug. 14 while riding his motorcycle in North Carolina. Fayetteville Police allege that Specialist Jason Gregory Taft was under the influence of alcohol, and he has been charged with second degree murder.
Restrepo said that while out with friends at a bar that night Ramirez had not been drinking. His roommate told him he was heading back to his room, and soon after around 2 a.m. Ramirez and his friend Chris, both sober, rode their motorcycles back.
That Saturday afternoon, their father was notified that Ramirez had died at the scene of the accident.
Chris told Restrepo that Taft was allegedly “so drunk” that he tried to flee the scene, but was unable to.
Restrepo said that on their drive to North Carolina, his brother had confided in him that driving while intoxicated was a problem on the army base, and while officials tried to control it, many soldiers were allegedly getting behind the wheel drunk anyway.
“The most tragic thing is for people [to think this is] another motorcycle accident associated with recklessness,” said Branden Rodriguez, his friend for 12 years. “He was not that kind of person.”
Keeping memories close
“Growing up, his family took us in as their own, and we’re more than lucky right now to not only have each other, but to have his family,” said his friend Jason Botcher, who first met Ramirez in fourth grade at Anna L. Klein School.
Botcher said that Ramirez had an uncanny ability to bring together people that you would never imagine would be friends. If it wasn’t for Ramirez bringing him close to people like Rodriguez, it would be even harder to deal with losing their friend, he said.
“We actually met in high school, it was a funny story,” said Rodriguez. “We were doing a modeling show together. I thought he was a little more of a prima donna [then].”
Chhabra said they bonded while in the Boy Scouts together, when they use to travel to Crystal Lake, N.J., where the “Jason” movies were filmed. He said that Ramirez played pranks on other campers by wearing the Jason mask at night.
“I used to be a chubby kid, and he always use to kind of push me physically,” said Chhabra. “He would take my bike and chase me around, make me go rollerblading, make me go skateboarding with him and as a result, it brought us closer and made me lose a lot of weight in a short period of time.”
Rodriguez said he would always remember Ramirez as a brother, as his best man, and his first child’s godfather, and that his memory would be with him “forever.”
Military aspirations
“He called us all to his house and said ‘listen guys, I enlisted in the army,’” said Botcher. “He thought we were all going to be upset that he was leaving and obviously we were, but we were proud that he wanted to make a change in his life and make a difference.”
Rodriguez reminisced about making the trip out to St. Louis, Mo. to drive his friend back from specialist training.
“We shared some of the fondest memories [and] spent 14 hours in the car, just talking about the future and what was to come,” said Rodriguez. “It was such a good moment in both of our lives.”
“It was always his passion and dream to serve in the military,” said Restrepo. “The year and half [he was in the army] was the happiest time of his life. He really became a man. He made me and my dad really proud.”
Botcher agreed, and said when Ramirez came home in July he had grown into a better man, and that he loved him for it.
Botcher said when Ramirez helped Haitian earthquake victims it “opened his eyes” and made him decide that he wanted to work for a non-for-profit in the future and continue to help people.
“His focus was never on himself, it was always on the person right next to him and to make sure they were having a good time,” said Botcher. “Things are going to be a lot different without him around.”
Ramirez is survived by his parents Maria Casa-Ramirez and Gonzalo Ramirez; Restrepo and his brother David; a niece and nephew, and his many friends.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.