LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Julianne Ramos upon the occasion of her
retirement after 32 years of dedicated and distinguished service to the
Rockland Center for the Arts

WHEREAS, Individuals who distinguish themselves in their profession and
in service to their community and the arts merit the recognition and
appreciation of their colleagues, community, and the people of the State
of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Julianne Ramos upon the occasion of her retirement after 32 years of
dedicated and distinguished service to the Rockland Center for the Arts;
and
WHEREAS, In 1984, this esteemed woman began her illustrious career
with the Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA) serving as Executive Direc-
tor; and
WHEREAS, Julianne Ramos served with loyalty, honor and distinction,
and for over three decades, rendered faithful, conscientious and valu-
able service to RoCA; and
WHEREAS, In her official acts as Executive Director, Julianne Ramos
brought numerous highly regarded performing arts series in various
genres to RoCA; and
WHEREAS, Several musical series included the Tappan Zee Chamber Series
which hosted performances by such string quartets as The Concord,
Members of the Guarneri, and The Tokyo, the Two's A Crowd Jazz Series
which presented the Pizzarellis and Billy Taylor and music and jazz
ensembles such as The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz; and
WHEREAS, Literary performing arts series included The Arts of Biogra-
phy which brought writers Doris Kearns Goodwin, Toni Morrison, Susan
Cheever, John Leonard and Robert Caro to speak about their subjects and
Live Readings of Loved Fiction which presented readings by actors Bill
Murray, Joan Cusack, Ellen Burstyn and William Hurt; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Julianne Ramos' Off-Off Center brought perform-
ance artists Tony Oursler, Constance DeJong, and Pat Oleszko, in
original works; and
WHEREAS, During Julianne Ramos' tenure, the Arts in Education outreach
program started with a small grant more than 20 years ago, and now
serves 2,000 students every year, including those in the East Ramapo
School District which eliminated art and music to save money; and
WHEREAS, Julianne Ramos also established a scholarship fund to provide
access to RoCA's Art School and Day Camp for adults and children who
could not otherwise attend; and
WHEREAS, Under Julianne Ramos' illustrious leadership, RoCA received a
substantial state Economic Development grant which paid for capital
repairs and improvements including a new roof, refinishing and re-tiling
the swimming pool, new wheels for the ceramic studio and the installa-
tion of a new electronic front door; RoCA also won a Strategic Improve-
ment Grant and raised additional monies to build a new painting studio,
and enlarge and improve the existing ceramic studio; and
WHEREAS, Julianne Ramos has been called upon to contribute her time
and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always
given of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Selected to manage the Rockland County Art in Public Places
program for which she serves as the administrator, Julianne Ramos plans
to keep that post after she retires as well as a part-time position with
the Queens Council on the Arts' Artist Peer Circle; and

WHEREAS, In her retirement, Julianne Ramos plans to stay in her West
Nyack home so she can be close to her children and grandchildren; she
also hopes to continue working on a historical novel set in Puerto Rico,
where she and her late husband, Dr. Federico Ramos-Yordan, a local
surgeon, lived for many years; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Julianne Ramos upon the occasion of her retirement after 32 years
of dedicated and distinguished service to the Rockland Center for the
Arts; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Julianne Ramos.