In a small town like Piru, you would never notice who is at the heart of it. But for locals, everyone knew, and that was Danny Ramirez, Piru and Fillmore native.
Ramirez passed away in 2024 from cancer, and ever since, Roy Ruiz, his friend, who also contributed to serving the town to the best and more, has made sure Ramirez is remembered.
“Danny was also a guy that would always be willing and wanting to help someone,” said Ruiz.
“If he wasn’t able to help you with whatever you needed, he would find someone, I mean, just like a guy or girl, he was like the godfather, you know, like he knew somebody.”
The local park that was once One River Stadium is now Danny’s One River Stadium, and it is all thanks to Ruiz and the town’s neighborhood council.
“We got our heads together, and we started thinking of different ideas, so we came up with the idea, ‘Let’s do a mural,” said Ruiz.
Ramirez had a long history with the park’s stadium. He participated in the Piru Youth Sports Program, announcing games, umpiring and coaching. His love and care now lie in this field.
In September of 2024, with Ventura County’s permission, the Piru neighborhood council chose to display a memorial to Ramirez, and the entire town came to witness the unveiling.
Ruiz and Ramirez’s friendship was one of genuine kindness and love; they shared a passion for bringing Piru and its people together as one big family.
“It didn’t matter how long you were here or if you were just a new member, he’d make you feel welcomed, that’s the kind of guy he was,” said Ruiz.
Ruiz always makes sure to carry the dedication and love Ramirez once did, not only for Piru but for Ramirez and what he meant to everyone.
“He took pride in Piru, and it’s one of the things he instilled in me,” said Ruiz.
