Remembering Ramiro

Blog News Mindfulness

11th February, 2026

by Katie Tokus | 6 Min Read

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Ramiro leads misty morning mindful walking during a photoshoot at Sharpham House in January 2019

UPDATE:

We dedicated the 17 February 2026 Weekly Online Sit to the memory of Ramiro and many of you joined us from across the UK and the world.

Lynne Holmes led the guided practice and also read a poem translated by Ramiro: Wayfarer.

We recorded the sit and poetry-reading and both are here in a Soundcloud playlist that you can play from this page. Click on each title to play the file:

The Sharpham Trust · Remembering Ramiro

We have some very sad news: our dear friend Ramiro Ortega - retreat leader and much-loved member of the Sharpham Trust family - died in Malaga, Spain, on Sunday 8 February 2026, surrounded by family and friends.

Ramiro was an immensely important part of the Sharpham community and had been leading retreats at Sharpham House for the past eleven years.

"Ramiro has been an integral part of Sharpham’s journey over the last decade, helping forge the Sharpham Approach as a mainstay of our retreat programme," said Julian Carnell, Sharpham Trust Director. "More than this, he touched countless lives through his quiet and calm holding of space and his depth of personal practice."

"I will miss his empathy and compassion but his influence will resonate through Sharpham and beyond in the years ahead and we can be thankful for that," he added.

Said Ben Ballard, Trust Programme Director: "Ramiro touched the lives of countless people who benefited from his teaching. His deep and unwavering commitment to mindfulness, and the way he embodied this through his presence and heartfulness, was such an inspiration to us all"."Ramiro will be remembered with great fondness and gratitude and he was a true inspiration to us all. The reverberations of his teaching, his open-heartedness, compassion, and gentle wisdom will continue to live on and endure. We are so grateful to have known him and to have shared the path with him."

A message from Spain

Ramiro's good friend in Spain posted this on the Caring Bridge blog set up to communicate with Ramiro during his illness: "For the past two weeks or so Ramiro has been cared for with such tenderness, in the palliative care ward of his local hospital in Malaga."

"He has been surrounded by family and friends, and held in love around the clock. Ramiro was lucid until this morning, and he asked that we put on some classical music for him to listen to. The day has been especially peaceful, listening to the music, and just holding his hand or massaging his feet. And a little over an hour ago our dear Ramiro gently breathed his last breath."

"A time will come for more words to be shared, and we will post on here as soon as any arrangements have been made to gather together in Ramiro's honour. For now, just blessings and gratitude, for this beautiful man and all that he gave to the world. We'll miss you, brother."

Funds raised in Ramiro's name

Elena de Paz, Communications Manager of Gaia House, helped to coordinate a fundraiser for Ramiro's medical expenses. She said that Ramiro "was profoundly touched by the outpouring of support and kindness shown to him after his diagnosis".

"While he wasn't able to reply to everyone individually, he read every message and appreciated each word and show of support," she said. "Ramiro asked that any money left over from this fundraiser (once any funeral expenses had been covered) be equally distributed amongst three charities close to his heart: Sharpham Trust, Gaia House Trust and Compassion in World Farming."

"Thank you for walking alongside Ramiro in his last few months. May his love, kindness and wisdom continue to inspire us all and live on in our hearts".

A dedicated sit to remember Ramiro

We are dedicating our next weekly online sit - scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday 17 February - to Ramiro to honour his life and teaching.

This is a chance for our wider community of retreat participants to come together to remember him.

Lynne Holmes will lead this sit, which is open all - even people who didn't know Ramiro, but who want to hold in mind and remember a loved one.

If you want to participate, please sign up here and the Zoom link will be sent on the day of the sit.

Retreatants' condolences and memories

May he rest in peace.

So sorry to hear of his passing and for everyone's sad loss.

Dear Sharpham, I am so sorry to hear of Ramiro’s death . I did two retreats with him and Patti and I really cannot believe such a fit and well person could pass so early in life . My deepest sympathies to his family and all those close to him

I am so sorry to hear of dear Ramiro's death - such a lovely person, I always made sure I went to one of his retreat annually, and gained such a lot by so doing. We will all miss him so much

So very sorry to hear of Ramiro's passing, such a shock. Sending my condolences to Ramiro's family and to all who knew and loved him at Sharpham.

May he rest in peace.

He was such a beautiful gentle caring human being and his soul will live on in Sharpham.

I feel really sad, he was such a wonderful teacher and often talked on how living in the present moment is so important.

I am deeply sorry to hear this news. He led me in a transformative 5 day retreat. He is a beautiful soul. Blessings be to him and his family.

I attended 3 retreats led by Ramiro and found him to be an absolute inspiration…The summer retreat I attended led by him changed my life.

That is so very sad to hear. He was such a beautiful man and a wonderful teacher. Condolences and much love to all his friends and family.

So sorry to hear this. Condolences to Ramiro’s family. May his soul rest in deep peace.

I went on 2 retreats with Ramiro in 2024 and it was life changing, one was at the Barn…I'm very sorry for your loss as people and an organisation. He was an incredible man.