Echoes: A Tribute to Ramiro F. Molina Jr.

Laughter, Love & Legacy: A Tribute to Ramiro 'Ramirito' Molina Jr.

Ramiro F. Molina Jr. known affectionately as "Ram," "Ramirito," or simply "Pa" lived life with a mischievous grin, a toolbox in hand, and a heart so big it could turn strangers into lifelong friends. When he passed away on June 12, 2025, at 55, he left behind a community that still hears his contagious laugh in the rustle of wind chimes and the stories shared over repurposed jars of sweet tea.

The Man Who Made Every Moment Shine

Ramiro’s daughters Cristina, Rebecca, and Camilla remember their father as a "professional fun-maker." Whether he was pretending to lose fingers to make them giggle, dancing with them atop his shoes ("Look, Pa’s my big guy!"), or spinning tall tales about teaching Michael Jackson to moonwalk, his joy was infectious. "He didn’t have a mean bone in his body," says Camilla. "Even when wronged, he’d respond with firm kindness, never cruelty."

His wife, Patricia, fell for that charm in high school when he slipped her bubble gum with love notes. On their first date, he declared, "I’m going to marry you." She laughed but 39 years together (29 married) proved him right. "He made everyone feel like they’d known him forever," she says.

Lessons in Coffee, Car Rides & Second Chances

Ramiro’s love language was action. Mornings began with him kneeling beside his daughters’ beds, spoon-feeding them tiny cups of coffee ("mostly milk and sugar") to ease them into the day a ritual he extended to their boyfriends in adulthood. He turned chores into adventures: "Kiko the Hair Stylist" styled bedhead before school; late-night drives for fries became "truck swaying" lessons in his manual-transmission Ford.

A master of repurposing, he taught his family to see potential in everything: old jeans became purses, jars became tool organizers, and a failed fishing trip in Sedona ("We used a stick and string!") became a legendary story. "He believed every problem had a solution," says Rebecca. "Even if it involved duct tape and creativity."

Community Roots & Produce Aisles

Ramiro’s 30-year career in the produce industry began humbly scrubbing toilets at TA-DE Distributing, but his work ethic and charisma made him a legend. Colleagues from California to Cleveland still swap stories about "the best inspector Dave Westendorf Produce ever had." Beyond work, he volunteered with Girl Scouts, supported the Nogales Women’s Club, and cheered Patricia’s community projects. "Wherever we went, someone stopped us to say, ‘You’re Ramirito’s family!’" laughs Cristina.

The Uno King & His Lasting Light

Family game nights revealed Ramiro’s playful stubbornness. "He never grasped Uno rules," Cristina recalls. "He’d slam down a +4 card, then pout when we corrected him but that was the only time he ever got annoyed." His resilience shone brighter in tough times. When car troubles arose, he’d soothe tears with, "What matters is you’re safe. Now let’s fix it."

A Legacy of Love

Ramiro’s pride was his family: Patricia, his "best friend"; his daughters’ accomplishments; and his vintage 1978 Ford F150 and 1951 Willy’s Jeep (which he dreamed of restoring). Today, cardinal sightings and mysterious wind chimes remind them he’s near. "He’d say, ‘Don’t cry, everything will be okay,’" whispers Patricia. "And it is, because he loved us enough to last lifetimes."

Ramiro Molina's legacy isn't just about the stories he shared or the objects he saved; it's about the way he taught others to live in joy every day. As his family says: "We can do anything because he loved us." And that, Ramirito would agree, is the greatest repurposing project of all.

A Final Farewell, But Never Goodbye

As family and friends gathered to honor Ramiro on June 20, they’ll carry forward his lessons: to laugh often, to fix rather than discard, and to love fiercely. Patricia finds comfort in the signs he leaves behind, a cardinal’s visit, a wind chime’s melody. “He’d tell us, ‘Don’t cry. Everything will be okay.’ And it will be,” she says. “Because he loved us enough to last a lifetime.”

In a world that often feels heavy, Ramiro F. Molina Jr. reminded us to lighten up. His story doesn’t end here it lives on in every shared joke, every repurposed treasure, and every heart he warmed. As his daughters say, “We can do anything because he loved us.” And that, perhaps, is his greatest gift of all.

“Ya no llores, todo va estar bien.” (Don’t cry, everything will be okay.) — Ramiro’s enduring wisdom.