Frederick M. Ramsey, 81, a general contractor and co-owner of Dorel Steel Erection Corporation of Quincy, died December 22, 2006 at his home. He was the beloved husband of the late Lucille (Rohrbacher) Ramsey.
Mr. Ramsey began working as an Ironworker at the age of 14 and became a Journeyman Ironworker at 16. He joined the Navy at 18 and earned the rank of Water Tender, First Class, by the age of 19.
He was discharged from the service on August 1, 1946 and married his beloved Lucille on the same day.
He was elected to the Ironworkers Local 7 executive board in the late 1950’s. He served three years as President and the next seven as Business Agent and Trustee for the Health, Welfare and Pension funds.
Mr. Ramsey then became the General Agent / Financial Secretary Treasurer of the Eastern Mass Building Trades as well as Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. During his time as a labor leader, he was an advisor to Mayors, Governors and Congressional Leaders. He served on the committee chaired by former Harvard Professor, John Dunlop, for then President Richard M. Nixon, to formulate a plan to stabilize wages and prices during the runaway inflation of that period.
In 1972 when Governor Sargent put a moratorium on new road construction, costing the commonwealth not only over a thousand jobs in the construction industry, but millions of dollars then, and billions down the road in federal highway funding, Fred called for all working people (union and non-union) state wide to meet at Boston City Hall Plaza. This was done with the blessings and support of then Mayor Kevin White. Fred then led this mass of supporters to the State House to confront the Governor.
A year later, Fred joined the private sector as General Manager of Dorel Steel Corp. A couple of years later along with Dorel owners, Frank Gardner and Jack Murphy Sr., the three started and owned Angle Iron Steel, a light metal fabrication company and Quincy Corp., a general contracting company.
During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s recession, the four companies were dissolved and Fred and Jack Murphy Sr. co-founded Dorel Steel Erection Corporation.
In the mid 1980’s, Fred returned as a Trustee to the Ironworkers Health, Welfare and Pension Funds as a contractor representative. This was a move praised by both labor and management. He retired in 1988 at the age of 62. Fred’s name along with a handful of others is carved in the wall inside the main entrance of Boston City Hall as being one of the men responsible for the city being able to build the building along with the Government Center Complex.
He and his wife Lucille then split time between Boston and Longboat Key, FL. They were able to travel the world before Lucille’s death in 1999.
He is survived by his son, Bruce A. Ramsey and his wife Donna of Somerville and his daughter, Susan A. Ramsey of Framingham. He was the grandfather of Tia L. Canizalez of Pelham, NH, Eric I. Ramsey of Somerville, Scott C. Ramsey of Framingham and the late Bruce A. Ramsey. He was the great grandfather of Miguel A. Canizalez III of Pelham, NH. He was the brother of Elizabeth McLaughlin and Margaret DeCenso of Cincinnati, OH.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his funeral from the P.E. Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St., West Roxbury, on Thursday, December 28th at 9:00 AM followed by a funeral mass in St. Theresa’s Church, West Roxbury at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, December 27th from 4-8 PM at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Fred’s memory to the Walker School, 1968 Central Ave., Needham, MA 02492.