Ramon Viray, Citizen of the Year
Ramon Viray was born to serve. That’s not just a tagline on his signature, but it’s something he lives every day with a big smile on his face. Ramon is a vital and beloved member of the Green Team 94803, who helps keep our community clean and beautiful. He is committed and shows up and help on Third Saturday Cleanups and Green Teams’s special events like Earth Day, Coastal Cleanup Day, El Sobrante Stroll and Parade and assorted interim cleanups (and sometimes treats the volunteers to his World Famous Banana Bread). If that isn’t enough, Ramon has adopted a highway, the CalTrans property near I-80, the entrance to our community —to make sure we give a good, first impression of our town. Have you seen his handmade signs there? He is so creative.
Ramon is the ultimate cheerleader and ambassador for our town, as he is constantly recruiting people to help cleanup (including his large family who live around the area or are visiting from the Philippines), which builds community and gives people a sense of purpose. He is a positive presence on Next Door as well, as he posts about the good works people do and inspires others to get involved. Ramon also helps on Dumpster Days, when he is available, and has taken it upon himself to paint over graffiti around the area, which is his pet peeve. He has rigged up a trailer to help pick up illegal dumps and he often will make trips to the recycling centers to drop off recycling or hazardous waste materials that has been collected by others. Thanks to the support of his lovely wife, Flora, Ramon is the ultimate volunteer, who also gives his time to help SOS! Richmond, to his church, St. Callistus, SPAWNERS, his family and individuals who just need a helping hand. If that isn’t enough, he still donates blood at the local banks on a regular basis. He recently joined up with the Green Team crew who is going to maintain the planters in the downtown area along San Pablo Dam Rd. Ramon’s background as a Navy veteran and head of maintenance for Oakland post offices has provided him the skillset and experience to help people in need of household repairs or give advice on projects. Ramon is a lot of fun, with a great sense of humor. He keeps us laughing with his selfies, song lyrics, witty posts and positive, can-do attitude. He has definitely earned this award as El Sobrante’s Citizen of the Year. Thank you, Ramon, for all you do to make El Sobrante cleaner, more beautiful, and a very neighborly place to live.