This past weekend, Washington State lost a good legislator and a good man with the sudden passing of Senator Bill Ramos. We at Habitat SKKC are saddened by his passing and grateful for the time we spent with him as a collaborator on our work in North Bend.
The state lawmaker represented the 5th Legislative District, which includes North Bend, where we built our Tyler Town neighborhood. Senator Ramos spent three terms in the House of Representatives before being elected to the senate in November of 2024. We worked with him while he was in the House as we were building our seven homes in North Bend.
Habitat SKKC’s Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donohue remembers him fondly: “I walked him through the site twice: once when it was mostly a dirt lot with pipes sticking up, and a second time when we were almost done. He was incredibly supportive of the work we were doing and always happy to help. He also joined us for our North Bend Community event that we held towards the end of the project, and he was incredibly warm and welcoming.”
Donohue remembers a conversation they had during the senator’s first site visit when he offered effective tips to get the legislature to fund Habitat projects—advice he uses to this day. Ramos’s generosity was felt by his many colleagues and collaborators.
Transportation systems, the state’s natural resources, and tribal relations are among the many issues he was passionate about as a public servant. In his personal life, he built a community in his residence of Issaquah as a dance instructor and organizer of community dance nights.
Habitat SKKC staff will remember him as a kind and happy man. Washington and the world are lessened by his too early departure, but he leaves behind a legacy of service, goodwill, and community-building. May we all be inspired by his work and life.