Gloria Esther Ramos, the daughter of Clotilde Rivera and Almengol Escalera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico in 1926. She was the older sister of Marta Lucila (known as Chispo), Carlos, Sixto, and Jesus Maria (known as Tuto). There was also an older brother Jacobo (known as Jaco) who died before the others were born. Gloria was raised in part by her aunt Soledad Escalera (known as Solin).
Yearning for big city activity, Gloria arrived in New York City in 1946 in a wave of emigration after World War II. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse, and later met and married Angel Luis Ramos in 1956. The couple was active in the Nuyorican night life of the 1950s, which included local concerts by the Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez big bands, and dancing at the Palladium.
Along with her husband, Gloria raised three boys, Angel Jr., Carlos, and Allen, first in the South Bronx and then in Queens. With love abundant, Gloria was also Mother for a time to her Godchildren, Miguel (known as Emmanuel ) and Teresa (known as Tabia).
A favorite family activity was making pasteles at Christmas time in a kitchen-based assembly line. She was very close to her beloved sister Chispo and her nephew and nieces, Jimmy, (the late) Joyce, Rose, and Darlene. As adults, the boys brought their Mom three daughters, Margaret Coles, Julie Segal and Yolanda Looney.
Angel and Gloria enjoyed traveling throughout the US, including Hawaii and the Grand Canyon. After retirement, the couple settled in Lakewood NJ.
Gloria will be mourned by her husband of more than 61 years, her sons and daughters, godchildren, many nieces and nephews, and grandchildren Janee, Jaron, Noa, Antonia, Allen Jr., Quinten, and Josiah.
