IN MEMORIAM OF DR RAMIRO MIRANDA

Our group stands on the shoulder of giants. Dr. Miranda, long-time president of our group and a founding member of our group, was key among those giants. -MM

I just learned that a high school friend, Ramiro Miranda passed away a week before last Christmas.

One of the very luckiest events of my teen aged years was the honor and privilege of getting to know and be around him. A bureaucratic accident caused by the similarity in our names.

Ramiro was a very good man who achieved his life goal of becoming a doctor. A quite accomplished orthopedic surgeon as I’ve learned. I was maybe his only “bad” friend in that once in a while as teenagers we’d go out and attempt to recruit a grown up to buy beer for us. (occasionally we were even successful…) So if you can imagine the days when it was “normal” for two teenaged boys to drink beer and drive around at night (as in “gee what could go wrong…?”) yeah, that was (very occasionally) us.

He usually wasn’t available for this and there was never any doubt as to WHY he was unavailable. Ramiro was a voracious and unapologetic student intent upon achieving his goal of becoming a doctor. These days a lot of smoke is blown about so called “rugged individualism.” For an extra 50 bucks you can make it official with a rugged individual neck tattoo. Well, for whatever it might be worth to anyone it’s fair to say Ramiro was the first REAL rugged individual I’d ever met. (no tattoo required…)

If you were there you know. Norwalk in the 60’s wasn’t a “Hell” More like benevolent mediocrity. We were pretty much coddled academically for a lot of reasons but I don’t want to digress here, only point out that Ramiro set his own academic standards and developed on his own the motivation and discipline necessary to achieve his goals. Were there teachers in Ramiro’s life that inspired him? I don’t know. I guess that wasn’t something we talked about much but one thing I could see even then was that there were PLENTY of teachers who were inspired BY him.

I remember us playing tennis and you taking your beatings like a dutiful friend and yes Ramiro, I remember the day Crockett pulled ME out and put YOU into a basketball game at a critical moment and the grin you shot me on the way in. (didn’t blame you a bit…) I’ve no idea if anyone will read this but if anyone does and they remember Ramiro I would dearly love to learn something about him that I didn’t know. I never knew a thing about his family. Was he raised by a single mom like me or was his dad around? Did he have brothers and sisters? I’m embarrassed and sad to realize if I ever asked, I don’t remember.. What I know (now) is that his friendship was one of the things that got me and perhaps a few others through those times. Rest in Peace Doctor Ramiro Miranda. – RM

Ramiro was a dear friend and I had the pleasure of working close with him for years. As his surgery scheduler we went through a lot together and I’ve observed him perform effortlessly in the OR. I have to say he was a brilliant surgeon, incredible businessman, and loved his family more than anything. He was the most selfless human being and was always cracking jokes. You will be dearly missed my friend – JF

I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Miranda for over 20 years. He was an amazing and compassionate surgeon. He also was very humorous person. Even with his most serious face he couldn’t keep it straight, he would try his hardest to be serious, but he would break in a matter of seconds. He was a great person to work for. Even though he was retired, his presence will truly be missed. -HS

Dr Miranda was a good man who built this practice to what it is today. It is a big loss for us. May he Rest In Peace. He will be dearly missed. -AQ

It is so heartbreaking to lose Dr Miranda. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed. -NC

I am seeing so many of Dr. Miranda‘s patients after he retired and all of them adore him. – MM

I am devastated by this news. May he rest in peace. -MC

I live in the results of his amazing work every day, the world is a better place because of him. – TJB

Very saddened to lose Dr Miranda. may he rest in peace – AC

I had the pleasure of working for Dr. Miranda when I first became a medical assistant and for the first six years of my career until I went to our Brentwood office. Dr. Miranda was one of the kindest people I have ever met. He loved his family more than anything and always bragged about them. I will never forget when our office was over on La Casa Via, he would go home when he was done seeing patients to be with his family and then would come back to the office later at night to dictate. That always stuck out to me because to me, it showed much he loved his family. He was so caring with his patients and staff alike. There was never a day that went by without a joke from him. He always had us laughing. He was just an all-around amazing human being aside from being an amazing surgeon. His loss is a huge one and I will never forget him or his kindness. Please pass along my deepest sympathies to his family. – JE

Ramiro was a huge part of making MOS successful and his skill and hard work blessed so many patients. He will be missed. -RW

I will never forget Dr. Miranda, he was so kind and patient. I’m very grateful to have had the chance to work with him, he was incredibly supportive and appreciative. He always put his family first and encouraged you to do the same. He will be dearly missed. – MP

Ramiro was a mentor, partner and friend. He will be missed and will forever be our “Jefe”. – WWW

I have lost an old friend, a friendship that started in residency training at UCSF, and sadly ended this last week. We spent our careers working closely together and building a practice. He and all our partners cared deeply for its success and value it brought to our patients. Rest in peace my good friend for a job well done. – GJT