Benjamin Scott Ramsey, 33, beloved son of Denise Ubelhor and Barry Ramsey, peacefully passed away on August 22, 2023, in Niagara Falls, NY.
He was born August 4, 1990, at Huntingburg Hospital in the wee hours of the morning. Although slow to enter this world, he was wide awake and always asking questions not long after, quickly earning “The Question Kid” as a nickname. His lifetime quest for knowledge left him unafraid to challenge himself to learn and grow.
During high school, Ben challenged himself to sing and dance, leading to him being cast in a lead role for Heritage Hills High School’s production of “High School Musical”. The following year, he was the only high school student selected to participate in the “This I Believe” series sponsored by the University of Evansville and WNIN. He spoke eloquently to an audience at the Shanklin Theatre on how he believed his life had similarities to J. R. R Tolkien’s characters in “The Lord of The Rings”.
Ben continued his pursuit of knowledge at Purdue University where he joined the Purdue Rowing Team as a freshman and earned a summer internship in Cambridge, MA. A joint venture between Purdue and the University of Massachusetts, he spent the summer researching day and night photosynthesis processes of trees. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science of Developmental and Cellular Microbiology with a Minor in Anthropology, he continued his lifelong quest for answers by researching cures for kidney cancer with Dr. Kim at the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research.
He was an outstanding researcher and a master at animal husbandry, leading to his recruitment by another professor for her lab and acceptance into a biology and chemistry PhD program at Purdue University in August 2019. In that role, he juggled teaching freshman chemistry students while researching how light therapy could potentially kill tumor cells from the inside out via a bioluminescence process that also gives fireflies their glow. Ben’s wanderlust led to his last adventure and a new research position in Buffalo, NY where he spent the last two years of his short but meaningful life.
Ben was a wanderer and adored travel. During his college years, many adventures were had with his closest friends Sanjay Mallipudi and Cameron Wilson. During a Christmas trip to the Grand Canyon, they were so proud to have used a “1970s road map” for the entire journey. Between research breaks, he traversed the United States from coast to coast and even explored Canada during his brief lifetime. A passionate music enthusiast, he frequented festivals and concerts, even learning the banjo – a reflection of his quirky spirit.
Indiana was always Ben’s anchor, and he unfailingly returned to spend cherished moments with his family. He forged an unbreakable bond with his nieces and nephew, affectionately becoming “Uncle Potato Head,” a title that later transformed into “Uncle French Fry.”
Ben was a seeker of knowledge, an adventurer, a son, a brother, a grandchild, an uncle, a nephew, but most importantly he was a kind and loving person who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Ben leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Denise Ubelhor and Wayne Ubelhor; his father and stepmother, Barry Ramsey and Rhonda Ramsey; his maternal grandfather, Richard Hubert; a brother, Dr. Jacob Ramsey (Oscar Montenegro); a sister, Katie Briody (Keith); a stepsister, Rachel Douglas Nelson; two stepbrothers, Barron Douglas and Nick Ubelhor (Chelsea); two cherished nieces, Tinleigh Lewis and Kaydence Briody; and a nephew, Eli Lewis. Additionally, he is survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Ben was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Charles Wayne and Virginia Ramsey, and maternal great-grandmother, Eileen Allinger.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Leopold.
Condolences may be left at zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com.
