We’re saddened to announce that Melanie Ramey, Vice Chair of the Council’s Board of Directors, passed away last month at the age of 87. A long-time Madison resident, Melanie was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and lived a life of advocacy, leadership and mentorship.
Melanie lived her life in service of others. A Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement, Melanie later moved to Madison and played a major role in community organizing for decades as the Executive Director of the YWCA, CEO of Hospice Organizations and Palliative Experts of Wisconsin, and president of both the Rotary Club of Madison and of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin.
Melanie first got involved with the Council in 2020, when a routine visit with her eye doctor revealed her vision had deteriorated due to macular degeneration, enough that she could no longer safely drive. Melanie took that advice seriously and asked a friend to pick her up. On their way home, they passed the Council’s offices in downtown Madison and Melanie decided to take action right away. Just a short time after her diagnosis, she was learning daily living and access technology skills from our Vision Services team to help her continue to live life on her own terms. A few months later, she saw her chance to put the skills she had gained throughout her life toward helping advance the Council’s mission by applying to join our Board of Directors.
Melanie’s ample leadership experience was an extremely valuable asset to the Board. As the Council has evolved alongside the increasingly complex nonprofit world, Melanie’s leadership helped her fellow board members grow and build on their own leadership skills. This continued professionalization of the board has been vital to the Council’s success. As someone who was new to vision loss, Melanie also brought an important perspective to the board’s work. Melanie was able to process her own vision loss while helping better the lives of other Wisconsinites who are blind or low vision.
“It was truly a privilege to work with Melanie,” says Executive Director Denise Jess. “Her passion for equality and justice shone through in everything she did. I also delighted in her life stories and quick wit. She will be missed.”
You can read Melanie’s full obituary online at CressFuneralService.com/Obituaries/Melanie-Ramey.