Brent J. Ramirez

Brent Joel Ramirez, of New Orleans, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on November 12th after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He was born on March 2, 1960 to his parents, Warren Mark Ramirez and Beverly Petty Ramirez.

Brent spent his early years in Baton Rouge, graduated from Tara High School and earned a degree from Louisiana State University. After a brief stint in commercial construction, he joined the Trammell Crow Company, where he was discovered by Sandy Gottesman. This pivotal moment led to a 36-year professional relationship with the Gottesman family in New Orleans. He eventually transitioned into commercial real estate development in Austin, Texas, where Brent became a partner at Live Oak Real Estate Company.

Brent was known for his high ethical standards, giving spirit and unselfish attitude. He built lifelong friendships and earned the lasting gratitude of his partners and the young professionals whom he mentored and supported. He prioritized long-term relationships, viewing his work as a way to help others to reach their highest potential in business and in life. The impact of his work has created a ripple effect that will be felt for years to come.

In his early years Brent developed a spiritual bond to the beauty, the light and the gentle music of nature. His father instilled in him a life-long passion for the outdoors, hunting and especially fishing. He lived by a deceptively simple credo: “Fish more.” This was his way of telling himself and all of us that the days we are allowed in this life are precious. Take time to do the things you love with those you love.

When not in a boat or a blind, Brent enjoyed cheering on his beloved LSU Tigers, hosting friends on the front porch, and spotting eagles along the Mississippi River. Above all else, Brent cherished his relationships with his children, Blakeley and Tyler who provided him with an immeasurable source of joy and pride. He was fiercely dedicated to his mother and father, to his wider family and to his friends. His many friendships, especially with his fraternity brothers and their families, ran old and deep.

The quality that set Brent Ramirez apart from most of humanity was just that, his humanity. He had love and concern for all people. He looked upon anyone he met, at whatever station in life, as a world to know. Whether a waitress delivering a plate of red beans, a maintenance worker pushing a broom or a passerby at The Fly, Brent went out of his way to make human connection, leaving everyone, including himself, grateful for the effort. Brent will be missed by all who knew him and will be fondly remembered for his kindness, humor, integrity, determination, generosity, courage and his true, easy smile. Of his many remarkable qualities, Brent’s eternal optimism may have been his brightest light. People would say that he was the most positive person they had ever encountered. In the most arduous challenges of his cancer battle, the improbable light of his optimism shone brightest.

When asked about how his cancer diagnosis affected his view of life, Brent, who was old enough to have watched television in black and white, took a long pause and replied, “For the first time I was seeing life in full color. Everything was in color, and it was so beautiful.”

Brent is survived by Michele Fontenot Ramirez, his adoring wife, best friend, and loyal partner in family, love and life for 33 years; his daughter, Blakeley Martin (Harrison); his son, Tyler Ramirez; and his grandson, Bennett Martin. He is also survived by his mother, Beverly Petty; his siblings, Karen Eldridge (John); Jene LeBlanc (Willie Reale); and Rochelle Beychok (Michael); and many nieces and nephews, all of whom adored their Uncle Brent. He is also survived by the loving Gottesman family, Linda Baum (Neil), Sandy (Lisa), Marcia Rafkin (Bill), and Morris (Laura), who considered him part of their family. He was predeceased by his father, Warren Mark Ramirez, niece, Charlotte Leigh Hamner, and his “second mom”, Charlotte Gottesman.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to everyone at the EJGH Cancer Center, and the former Tulane Cancer Center, for their loving care and unwavering support. The family deeply appreciates the uniquely personal attention, concern, and friendship over many years of Dr. Oliver Sartor and Dr. Kendra Harris.

Visitation will be held at St. Rita Catholic Church, 2729 Lowerline St. in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., immediately followed by a Funeral Mass.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date in Austin, Texas for the many wonderful friends Brent made over his twenty-three years of work in a city that he loved.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in his memory to Blue Ribbon Soirée (https://blueribbonsoiree.org/donate/), benefitting Prostate Cancer Research or HeartGift Foundation of Louisiana (https://heartgift.org/waystogive/donate-online/), providing life-saving congenital heart defect surgery to children from around the world.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetaire.com