Joseph M. "Jiggs" Ramos, 87, of New Bedford died Thursday April 5, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the husband of Louise A. (Gomes Monteiro) Ramos.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Manuel J. and Carolina (Santos) Ramos, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Mr. Ramos was a self-employed accountant for many years. He also served as New Bedford City Treasurer from 1971-1983, and previously worked as a financial consultant for the Small Business Administration and as the shipping department supervisor for Aerovox.
He was a graduate of New Bedford High School, where he was the top-ranked male student, and the Kinyon-Campbell Business School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, before accepting a position in the British Admiralty Technical Mission with the Royal Navy in Canada from 1943-1945.
He was active in numerous civic and community organizations, including the Cape Verdean-American Veterans Association, the N.A.A.C.P., the Cape Verdean Retirees, the Bisca Tournament Club, and the Massachusetts Treasurers Association. He also served as the treasurer of the Cape Verdean Ultramarine Band Club for many years.
Survivors include his wife; four children, Kenneth and his wife Roberta, Adele, Jaime and his wife Angelina, and Mary Lyn, all of New Bedford; a stepson, Keith Francis and his wife Dr. Juliet, of Maryland; three sisters, Elizabeth Burgo of Dartmouth, Mary Soares and Dorothy Gomes, both of New Bedford; three brothers, Ceasar, Louis and Raymond, all of New Bedford; his son-in-law, Barry Spinola; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; several godchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Lois P. Ramos, stepfather of the late Kenneth Francis, and brother of the late Manuel Ramos, John Ramos and Kathleen Lopes.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 9 AM in Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial with military honors will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.