“My experience of the shooting
hit too close to home. It’s going
to be my focus ‘til my dying day.
I look at my grandkids and I
owe it to them to be part of the
solution. Let’s create a world
that all children are safe in.”
Kelly Ramirez
Teacher and community activist
K
elly Ramirez, 58, was born in the East Bay and
moved with her family to Gilroy as a teenager.
She graduated from San Jose State University with a Liberal
Arts degree and teaching credential. Her teaching career
included fi ve years at St. Mary School and Elliot Elementary,
and twelve years at Gavilan College where she taught English.
More than 20 years ago, she participated on a Relay for Life
team and was so moved by the experience that she launched
the fi rst annual Relay for Life in Gilroy, chairing and then
co-chairing it the next three years. She went on to work for
the American Cancer Society. After that, she worked in the
nonprofi t sector as an Event Manager, and then was recruited
by YWCA Silicon Valley as Chief Development Offi cer. From
there, she was hired as Executive Director for Mt. Madonna
22
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
YMCA. Kelly retired in 2015 but returned briefl y to teaching
when St. Mary School needed a Fourth Grade teacher and the
new school year was about to begin. She is a Gilroy Rotary
Club board member, Chair of the Mercantile Committee for
the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and a co-founder of the Blessing
Box, which provides emergency food for those in need. She is
also a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary Church and a volunteer
at St. Mary School. Following the Garlic Festival incident in
2019, she formed group called BUILD #GILROYSTRONG
to examine issues and increase awareness surrounding gun
violence and advocate for change. Kelly lives in Gilroy with
her husband Pete, a retired San Jose Police Offi cer and current
Lieutenant with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s
offi ce. They have three adult children and one grandchild.
WINTER 2020
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