James “Jim” Robert Ramzy, 85, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, February 8th, 2015, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help care facility, Virginia Beach, VA, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Jim served proudly in the United States Navy, retiring a Captain, and remained an active member of the civic and business community of Loudoun County, Virginia through his retirement years. His family remembers him as a beloved patriarch whose generosity was evident in all he did, especially family sailing trips in Hawaii and the Chesapeake Bay.
Jim was born in Jacksboro, TX, in September 1929. A survivor of the Great Depression, he worked various jobs in prairieland Texas as a teenager. Wanting to see the world and seek out new challenges, Jim enlisted in the Navy at age 19 where he first served aboard the diesel submarine USS DOGFISH (SS-350) as an electrician’s mate.
Jim was selected for the U.S. Naval Academy after attending the Naval Preparatory School and graduated in June 1954. It was in Annapolis that he met and fell in love with his future wife and the mother of his three beautiful daughters, Frances Gunther. Jim was first assigned to the USS HANK (DD-702), Norfolk, VA, as communications officer, and then the diesel sub USS CATFISH (SS-339), New London, CT, before selection to Sub School and Nuclear Power School. His first nuclear sub assignment was aboard USS JOHN MARSHALL (SSBN-611) in November 1961 as Engineering Officer, and then aboard USS THOMAS JEFFERSON (SSBN-618) as Executive Officer. Jim attended Naval Post-Graduate School in January 1967 in Monterey, CA and graduated with a Masters of Science in Oceanography. He was subsequently awarded command of the Gold crew of the USS WOODROW WILSON (SSBN-624) out of Pearl Harbor, HI in May 1969. Jim’s crew were known for their involvement in the successful test launch of the POLARIS nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile. He also served aboard submarines on which his future son-in-law, Eric, a Navy SEAL, had been deployed. Jim is remembered for meeting face-to-face with Admiral Rickover early in his career and passing one of his well-known tests of character and resolve, telling the admiral plainly, “I may not know much, but I can make a decision.” The answer landed him selection to Sub School. His performance in the Navy was never short on decisiveness. Jim served finally in the staff of COMSUBGRU 5 in San Diego, CA and COMSUBLANT in Norfolk.
Jim retired as a Captain in 1978, residing in Hillsboro and Leesburg, VA for many years until moving at last to Virginia Beach. Jim devoted himself to many business and civic pursuits after military retirement, running a successful commercial real estate business and remaining active in the Purcellville Rotary Club, Lions’ Club and local community center. He was also an ardent supporter and personal patron of Leesburg’s fine local artists, and many of their paintings hung proudly in his home. Always a supportive alumnus, Jim attended his Naval Academy Class 50-year reunion in 2004 and with much glee revisited his and Frances’ first home, just outside the gates of those hallowed grounds.
Jim’s remains were put to rest in the mausoleum niche wall at Princess Anne Memorial Park, in Virginia Beach, VA, on February 14, 2015, following a memorial service with Navy Honors. He is survived by his former wife, Frances, with whom he was fortunate enough to restore a loving relationship as his life came to a gentle close; his second ex-wife, Felice Anderson; three lovely daughters, Ann, Susan, and Catherine; five bright grandchildren, Sean, Zachary, Alicia, Caitlin, and Amy; and three beautiful great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Sloane, and James.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to www.interfaithrelief.org to feed the hungry of Loudoun County.