From Millie and Ed Holdnak
We came to know John Ramsey in the late forties, when we were undergraduates and he was a highly respected professor at the University. Along with his many academic responsibilities, Doc made time to serve as secretary to the A Club, where he became a friend and mentor to many young athletes struggling to balance the demands of the classroom with those of coaches. Stories of Doc lending his car for dates and his apartment for honeymoons are legendary, and few weddings of “A Clubbers” took place without John Ramsey as best man or usher.
Though his intellect was formidable and his interests all-encompassing, his wit and his ability to relate to people will remain John Ramsey’s most endearing and memorable qualities. As we graduated and moved into new lives, he became our primary link to the University. His letters, calls, and visits kept us abreast of news of campus, friends, and new acquaintances. Holidays and semester breaks usually found him making a circuit throughout Alabama and into neighboring states to see those he had come to regard as family. He would drive up with a flourish — often wearing a jaunty tweed cap — and proceed to unload a wild assortment of toys that he hoped would be appropriate for the children. I am sure that he found it a decided relief when they became old enough to enjoy books and records! His visits were fun for our family. Somehow, he found a way to relate to each of us on a personal basis — discussing what was important in our lives — sharing what he knew would be of interest to us. Often they would include side visits to or from others who lived along the Gulf coast.
Dr. Ramsey’s role as mentor did not cease with our graduation or our generation. Faced with decisions or problems, we continued to seek his advice. Similarly, he was often the first person we would call to share good news. He encouraged Ed to return to graduate school and generously shared his apartment to help minimize our expenses. Our sons were fortunate to grow up knowing John Ramsey as a cross between a Dutch Uncle and a benevolent Godfather. In time, each was invited for a weekend visit to campus to see what the University might offer in their chosen fields of study. His influence had a profound influence on their lives. To quote one of our sons, “I might be able to let one of you down, but I could never disappoint Doc.”
Though many members of his family came from different eras and different areas of the University, we came to know each other through his anecdotes, his Homecoming Buffets and later at the Ramsey dinners. When we lost Doc, we could not bear to lose those who were also part of him. The family that John Ramsey created continues to grow and flourish in his memory. May it always be so.
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