Dorothy Ziccardi

Drive anywhere on the south shore and you will see the Ramsay name on sign after sign. A leader in the real estate industry, Ramsay Realtors has helped many in our community find a house and start a home. The real people behind those signs are Rick and Tammy Ramsay, owners of Ramsay Realtors. Rick and Tammy have been partners in life for 20 years, married for 19 of those years and business partners since 2002. Ramsay Realtors was started in 1974 by Rick's parents, Eric and Joyce Ramsay, also life partners personally and professionally. Originally in the life insurance sector, Eric Ramsay was introduced to the world of real estate by Nicholas Racanelli, Sr., another familiar name in our community. Eric began his real estate tenure with land deals and was instrumental in such developments as The Admiralty, Southwood Estates, Captree Landings, Pathey Gardens, Emerald Woods, Windcrest, Providence Park and Baywoods. In 1997, his wife Joyce suddenly passed and Rick stepped in as partner to help with the everyday workings of the business. In 2001, Eric was diagnosed with lung cancer and semi-retired, turning the everyday workings of the business over to Rick. Known for his integrity and business acumen, Eric was an exceptional mentor to Rick and Tammy, who continue his legacy today. More than a parent and business partner, Eric had a deep friendship with both Rick and Tammy and was the best man at their 1995 wedding! Rick, a graduate of George Washington University, originally planned a career on Wall Street; however, the marliet crash changed that dynamic. Rick joined the family business and worked side by side with his Dad until his passing in 2004. At that time, Tammy, a graduate of Dowling College and a former East Islip teacher, had been with the firm for two years. With hard work and dedication, and in a loving tribute to Rick's parents, Rick and Tammy grew the company from an office of 12 agents to one of 35, now ranked 7th in Suffolk County with over $200 million in sales in 2013. In addition to their business success, Rick and Tammy have been very supportive of their community. Rick spends most of his free time with his sons and never misses a game, whether it is on a baseball field, lacrosse field or tennis court. He coached Little League for eight years and is an encouraging voice on the tennis courts. Rick has been a board member of the Great South Bay YMCA and President of the Oconee Association Board. Tammy has also been very active and served as the Chair of the Southside Hospital Tennis Classic, revitalizing the event which has now become an important fund raising initiative. Rick and Tammy were honored at the Classic several years ago. Most importantly, they have handed this legacy of caring to their three sons, Eric, 17, Matthew, 15, and Jack, 11, who have been raising funds for pediatric cancer and have also been seen on the course as Southside Hospital Golf Classic volunteers! Their legacy is multigenerational and can be traced back to 1939 to Rick's great grandfather, Frank Gulden, who served on the Southside Hospital Board and as its chairman for decades. The a,!iulden Pavilion, which is home to Southside Hospital's radiation oncology program, is named for him We are privileged to honor Rick and Tammy Ramsay tonight and thank them for creating yet another generation of philanthropists and community advocates.