Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Ramsay, John

Teacher; born Sydney, 2 April 1931; died Sydney, 30 July 1999, aged 68.

John Ramsay was the oldest of four children to Mary and Oscar, and was educated at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bowral, as a boarder, 1937-43. Secondary education was also as a boarder at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, 1944-50, where he distinguished himself as a leader among his peers. He was captain of the school in 1950, as well as president of the Sodality of Our Lady, and senior cadet lieutenant in the Cadet Corps. Not being satisfied with reaching the highest rank possible for a cadet, somehow Ramsay received papers appointing him to the rank of captain. At some time during the year he clashed with the OC, Captain Leonard Skewes, who cashiered Ramsay, reducing him to the ranks. However, soon after this decision was rescinded. While not appreciating Skewes' previous action, Ramsay never lost his love of all matters military, and Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel was his special hero as a leader. Throughout his Jesuit life, Ramsay was involved in leadership seminars for school leaders which participants found informative and helpful.

His passion for rowing developed during his years at Riverview. He rowed in the first eight 1949-50, and coached the Riverview's 3rd and 4th fours to victory at the Head of the River in 1951. While still in second division, he was appointed sacristan, developing an early interest in liturgical ceremonies. After leaving school, he made some attempt to study Latin, but spent much time reviewing films with a friend, film critic.

Ramsay entered the Society, 1 February 1952, at Loyola College, Watsonia, beginning a commitment from which he never wavered, despite some uncertainty he felt on behalf of the Society when it delayed his entry and extended his noviciate. He was not an academic, finding studies very difficult, but he was always keen to be sufficiently well informed to be a wise counsellor, and kept up professional reading. He studied humanities in the juniorate, 1954-55, philosophy 1956-57, and 1962, and theology 1963-66 at Canisius College, Pymble. During these study years he discovered outlets for his energy and interests, such as directing plays, organising sport, relaying a turf cricket pitch, and directing liturgical ceremonies with great dignity and style. In 1967 he taught religion and commerce at Riverview.

Tertianship was at Auriesville, USA, 1968-69; an experience Ramsay always remembered, as he came to appreciate the hospitality and generosity of American Jesuits, and gained pastoral experience in schools and hospitals.

Ramsay was a born teacher, and he and his pupils enjoyed engagement in war games and other exciting ventures in his history classes at Kostka Hall, 1958-61, Norwood, Riverview, 1969-81, and Xavier College. His classes were never dull with Ramsay telling them war stories and fascinating them with his theories of history and life. He challenged each student to pursue the best level of achievement of which he was capable.

Many boarders at Riverview would remember Ramsay for his firm but fair direction of Second Division. He enjoyed organising the boys and did it very well, they appreciating his fatherly care and attention.

He spent 1982 in parish work at St Mary's, North Sydney, but was not comfortable in this work and returned to Riverview the following year.

As rowing director and coach at both Riverview and Xavier College, he coached the Riverview winning second eight at the GPS Head of the River in 1974 and the first eight in 1975, which later represented NSW in the youth eights at the Australian Championships. Students involved with rowing were particularly fond of Ramsay; he understood, challenged and supported them in their sporting and personal needs.

Yet rowing was also a source of tension; its administration was always political for him. He found it difficult to reconcile his caring interest in each member of a crew with the need from time to time to speak strongly to anyone who seemed to be giving less than full effort and cooperation. He also found it hard to balance enjoyment of victory, frustration at avoidable failure and the Jesuit realisation that the deepest success occurs in an individual's own growth to that maturity which inspires him to do God's work in fields beyond the world of rowing.

Twelve years from 1984 were spent at Xavier College, and while he missed Riverview and his family, he enjoyed continuing his work among the students, teaching and rowing. He was also the headmaster's representative to the Associated Public Schools sporting association, and enjoyed the school politics among that august group of men. He was the official starter during the athletics season, proudly decked out in his red blazer, red cap and starting gun; a figure of great authority on the starter's stand. In whatever Ramsay was involved, there was high drama and excitement. Politics and intrigue were never far from his dealings with groups, and the Jesuit community enjoyed listening as his strategies evolved, especially with rowing.

Many of his activities were reduced from a few days before Christmas in 1985 when he suffered a major heart attack. He survived this crisis, but was forced to moderate his life style. His doctors helped him to live for another 13 years, and every day was a bonus. He enjoyed the daily challenges and lived it to the full, still teaching religion to the senior boys and heavily involved with coaching and organising rowing. He was able to continue his role as master of ceremonies at liturgical functions, an imposing figure of authority on the sanctuary with a red stole. With the glance of an eye, an admonitory finger, the move of an eyebrow, everyone was kept in order. There was something of his love for the military and protocol that gave him great enjoyment in this work.

Ramsay returned to Riverview in 1996, and he was delighted to be able to see more of his family to which he was devoted. This move was seen by many as a final home coming. During these later years he taught religion, supervised classes, and held court in his office for the boys that sought his company daily. He tutored a small group from Cheshire House and carefully followed their achievements. They were devoted to him. In the last few year of his life he was appointed rector of the college, a duty he enjoyed very much, and he more than ably performed all tasks required of him with charm, dignity, and thoughtfulness of others. The Jesuit community appreciated his care of them.

Ramsay was always the priest who had a love of the Eucharist. In remembering the reverence and care with which he said the prayers of the Mass, it was sensed that talking to God was not just the recitation of a ritual. Weddings and baptisms were an important part of his ministry. He took great care in the preparation of his sermons, ever reading and pondering possibilities, while his delivery in a stentorian voice easily held his audience. His Anzac Day sermon, which combined detailed knowledge of the wars combined with great eloquence, was particularly impressive. One devoted student believed that if God had a new human form it was when John Ramsay preached.

In whatever community Ramsay lived, it was livelier because of his presence. Watching him with Michael Stoney sitting for hours in two large chairs in the Xavier College community recreation room practicing their finely tuned listening skills on one another was a joy to witness. Ramsay made people feel happy to be at home, and when he was absent, it is noticed. He was a great source of fun, telling all that he went out to consult with his doctor, when really he was having a dinner party with the kind man, or that he was going out to work for the headmaster, which was another subterfuge for a good night out with friends. His reference to superiors as the 'high command' and wondering why 'they' did not do something was always a source of fun. But this changed in 1998 when he became a superior himself and he changed the conversion from 'they' to 'we' with some reverence. He enjoyed attending meetings of the Sydney superiors' even when quiet ill because, as he said, he wanted to know what was happening.

His life came to an end suddenly late one Wednesday afternoon after a staff meeting and refreshments. He told people that he had had an enjoyable day attending the opening of a new Victor Chang cardiac unit at St Vincent's Hospital and was feeling well. He returned to the Jesuit residence, and very shortly afterwards he experienced irregular heartbeat, followed by cardiac arrest. Resuscitation occurred, but when he was taken to hospital where it was discovered that he had irreversible brain damage, further treatment was withheld. He died some time later peacefully in his brother Paul's private hospital at North Shore. The vigil Mass was held at Riverview, and the funeral Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, which was filled to capacity. Our Jesuit schools lost an educator with an unusual flair for inspiring young people, and the Jesuits lost a good friend.

John Ramsay (funeral booklet)

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)