Ramsay Realtors: Proudly Serving Long Island’s South Shore Since 1974
A leader in the real estate industry, Ramsay Realtors has helped so many families in our community find a house that became a home. Drive through any of our south shore neighborhoods or Main Streets and you’re likely to see the Ramsay name over and over again in front of properties that are up for sale. As a husband and wife team, Rick and Tammy Ramsay, owners of Ramsay Realtors, don’t take that lightly; they are very grateful to have earned that trust from the community, with two generations of their family having worked hard to gain it.
Ramsay Realtors was established back in 1974 by Rick’s parents, Eric and Joyce Ramsay, who were partners both personally and professionally. Originally in the life insurance sector, Eric Ramsay was introduced to the world of real estate by Nicholas Racanelli, Sr., another familiar name in our community. Well-liked for his integrity and business acumen, Eric experienced success quickly and developed his real estate business executing land deals. He played an instrumental role in residential developments, including The Admiralty, Southwood Estates, Captree Landings, Pathey Gardens, Emerald Woods, Windcrest, Providence Park and Baywoods.
Choosing to follow a different path, real estate was not on Rick Ramsay’s original agenda. A graduate of George Washington University, Rick initially had his sights on selling stocks on Wall Street, not houses off Main Street. However, the stock market crash of October, 1987, had Rick changing his path towards real estate. He worked and learned under the guidance of his parents for nearly a decade. In 1997, Joyce suddenly passed, prompting him to step in as partner to his dad and assist with the everyday dealings of the business. Rick worked side by side with his dad until 2004, when Eric was passed from lung cancer. Rick took over the family business after his father’s passing.
Married since 1995, Rick and Tammy first met on a blind date. They had an instant connection, fell in love, and married soon after. A graduate of Dowling College with a degree in business and education, Tammy worked part-time at the office with Rick, eventually stepping in full-time to help with the business after Rick’s dad passed. Eric was an exceptional mentor to Rick and Tammy, who continue his legacy today. With hard work and dedication, and in a loving tribute to Eric and Joyce, Rick and Tammy grew the company from an office of 12 agents to one of 53 with over $270 million in sales in 2021. Ramsay Realtors is now one of the leading real estate offices specializing in luxury waterfront residential and commercial real estate listings, industrial properties, and rentals.
Our south shore is a very special place; it is not just an area of expertise for Rick and Tammy, it is their home. It has been home to the Ramsay Family for over fifty years. The first-hand knowledge gained from living in an area for several decades is extremely valuable when offering guidance and assisting others in finding a home in the area. Real estate aside, the Ramsays are deeply rooted here, and their commitment to the community is evident from their philanthropy.
Best known for their real estate business, what most people may not know is how generous and supportive the Ramsays are of their community. Their legacy is multigenerational and can be traced back to 1939 and Rick’s great grandfather, Frank Gulden, who served on the Southside Hospital Board as its chairman for decades. The Gulden Pavilion, which is home to Southside Hospital’s radiation oncology program, is named for him. Fast forward to present times, working together, the Ramsay Family has raised over $100,000 in support of Charlie’s Champions Foundation for children with leukemia at Winthrop Hospital. They are also longtime supporters of Northwell Hospital (and 2x past honorees), Good Samaritan Hospital, Bay Shore Schools, Bay Shore Fire Department, Bay Shore/Brightwaters Little League, Just for the Kids Foundation, Morgan Center, Hospice Care, Maggie Fischer Great South Bay Swim, Sounds of Silence Run…and the list goes on. In addition, Rick has been a board member the Great South Bay YMCA, and also President of Oconee Board in Brightwaters. It’s impressive how much they give, and heartwarming that they are happy to do so. Bravo.
When not in the office, Rick spends most of his free time with his boys. When they were younger, Rick never missed a game, be it on the baseball field, lacrosse field or tennis courts. He coached little league for eight years and was always an encouraging voice on the tennis courts. Growing the family business was a full team effort, but always took a back seat to raising their three sons.
Today, Jack, 21, plays Division 1 lacrosse at Sacred Heart University, and Rick & Tammy continue to attend the majority of his games. Matthew, 25, is a graduate of Farmingdale State College majoring in Business Management. Eric, 27, joined the family business in 2019 after graduating from the University of South Carolina with degrees in both finance and real estate. Both Eric and Matthew are NYS Licensed real estate agents, and Jack is currently in the process of acquiring his real estate license as well. When the family is not visiting Jack and cheering on his games, they spend much of their time golfing, boating, and just enjoying hanging around their home with family and friends.