MANILA, Philippines—Former Inquirer Lifestyle society columnist Donato “Donnie” Ramirez died early Tuesday at the Makati Medical Center. He was 73.
He had been in a coma the past weeks following a brain surgery that sought to remove blood clots.
Ramirez was a corporate executive with Levi’s for several years before he opted to leave a career in marketing and communication to write a society column, initially for the late Ernie Evora Sioco, who was then editor of Mod weekly magazine.
He then became a society columnist for the now defunct broadsheet Manila Chronicle, then Inquirer and Metro magazine. He also founded a thriving public relations firm, DCR.
He is survived by his siblings Efren, Dominga de la Cruz, Encarnacion Santos, Gloria Garcia, Carmelita Robles, Marcelino, Celia Nepomuceno and Maria Luisa Ortencio.
He lies at La Funeraria Paz, Manila Memorial Park in Sucat. Interment will be announced later.