Obituary of Ramon Vilamajo

Ramon Vilamajo, 82, of Falls Church, Virginia, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2022. Born in Lerida, Spain in 1940, his mother was Isabella Trepat, his father was Josep Vilamajo and his brother was Domingo Vilamajo.

Ramon left home at 16 to follow his passion for cooking and moved to Madrid to attend culinary school in preparation to become a chef.  A few years later he moved to the Canary Islands to work in the hospitality industry as a junior chef.  Ramon was given an opportunity and moved to the United States in 1970 and became Sous Chef to the acclaimed El Tio Pepe Spanish restaurant in Washington DC and later became a Partner. In Washington DC he also met his wife, Nelly Elba, and they were married at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown, Washington DC in 1973.

After Tio Pepe closed, he worked for Dominique’s restaurant, and then became the sous chef to the renowned Jean-Luis Palladin at the Watergate hotel.  Ramon also became a citizen of the US during this time. Ramon ended his career working at Gannet/USA today as their executive head chef and was a Virginia resident for 52 years.

After retiring, he enjoyed swimming, watching his soccer team Barca play, traveling, going to the beach, reading, and passing his passion for cooking to his friends and family, especially his grandaughters.  Ramon was known for his gentle demeanor, his smile on his face, and his generous, kind heart. He was a devoted husband and is survived by his wife, Nelly Vilamajo married for 49 years.  He was a cherished father to his only daughter, Susan Goffee, (Mark Goffee) and his two granddaughters Sadie Goffee and Stella Goffee.

The family will hold a funeral mass at St James Catholic church at 10:45AM Saturday, December 10.  Immediately following is a funeral service at National Memorial Park in Falls Church at 12pm.

To send flowers to the church for the day of the funeral, please send them to St. James Catholic Church in Falls Church VA.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the American Heart Association in Ramon’s name.