Richard Boulette and Teresa Ramirez-Boulette, PhD
Some may have wondered what happened to long time (48 years) Santa Barbara residents, Richard Boulette and Teresa Ramirez-Boulette, PhD. They are resting peacefully, together forever, in a Veterans Cemetery in South Texas as per their wishes. Both Navy veterans, with Teresa achieving the rank of Officer.
Richard died suddenly on February 1, 2021. Teresa died May 21, 2021 after a short illness. Special thanks to Santa Barbara City Emergency Services, Cottage Hospital and California Nursing Home.
Teresa received her B.S. from Texas Women’s University, and while working at a Naval Hospital in the Psych ward. She completed her M.S. at University of Oregon. Leaving the Navy, the couple moved to Santa Barbara and began long, distinguished careers with the County. Richard enjoyed his work as a Probation Officer. Teresa began at Mental Health, in clinical work while she obtained her Ph.D. and post Ph.D from UCSB.
Teresa was a Renaissance woman. She provided Spanish language educational radio and television programs, wrote a family friendly treatment book, and mentored many co-workers. She continued a private practice as a psychologist after her retirement from the County.
Both loved animals. A teenage Teresa captured, and enjoyed feeding and caring for various snakes. Biology fascinated her! Richard had always had cats, and even had a favorite cat’s ashes enshrined on his desk. Throughout their 59 years of marriage, besides a wide assortment of rescue dogs, they also had a deformed pet squirrel and a Kinkajou. The Kinkajou, Enrique, had a large cage in a corner of their garage in their home on the Riviera. His cage resembled a rain forest. Richard and Teresa could be seen daily walking their dogs at Rocky Nook Park. All their animals were considered family. Their surviving dog, thirteen-year old Silverio, is living with Teresa’s oldest niece in Texas, where he keeps busy finding plenty of mischief.
Richard and Teresa, throughout their marriage, traveled extensively, prior to their commitment to their pets. Both were avid readers and enjoyed the arts, good music, the opera, and fine restaurants.
Richard was predeceased by his parents and a younger brother. Teresa, the youngest of her generation was predeceased by her parents and her 7 siblings. Born into the depression, of lower middle-class families, Richard and Teresa were a hard-working couple who valued the money they earned and wanted to do good with it.
The four beneficiaries of their largess are Santa Barbara Humane Society, Viva Volunteers in Lompoc, K-9 Placement and Assistance League, and the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society. The family hopes you remember them with affection, as we do. If you would like to make a donation in their memory, any of the above, or an animal charity of your choice would be appropriate.