Ramon José Vallejo V
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Cuba 1956
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Father's business 1960
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First communion 1961
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MIT 1973
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Walking Down the Aisle May 2018
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Lizette's Wedding Day May 2018
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Costa Rica June 2024
- Born: 1953 in Bayamo, Oriente, Cuba.
- Family Lineage: Part of a multigenerational line — the fifth “Ramon José Vallejo” in the family; his son is the sixth.
- Early Childhood:
- Lived an upper-middle-class life in Cuba until age 8.
- Fond memories of family, community festivals, and attending Catholic school.
- Emigrated to the U.S. in 1962 after Castro’s revolution; family resettled in Tampa, Florida.
- Experienced drastic lifestyle change — father worked at a gas station, mother at a shrimp-peeling factory — shaping his work ethic and appreciation for hardship.
- Lived an upper-middle-class life in Cuba until age 8.
- Education & Early Ambition:
- Describes himself as ambitious, goal-oriented, and a planner.
- Motivated by his father’s dream for him to attend West Point; after his father’s death from colon cancer when Ramon was 17, he set his own goal to attend a top engineering school.
- Accepted to MIT, earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
- Later pursued a Master’s in Civil Engineering at Cornell University.
- Describes himself as ambitious, goal-oriented, and a planner.
- Career:
- Joined Shell Oil Company in 1976 as an engineer, beginning in New Orleans — the city he would ultimately call home.
- Spent 37½ years at Shell, holding diverse roles: technical engineering, management, HR, and research.
- Ended his career as a Project Manager for offshore projects in Brazil, traveling frequently to Rio de Janeiro and Monaco.
- Praises Shell’s ethical culture and employee development; retired with pride and a strong pension.
- Joined Shell Oil Company in 1976 as an engineer, beginning in New Orleans — the city he would ultimately call home.
- Personal Life:
- Married to Maria for 47 years; both Cuban immigrants.
- Together raised three children:
- Ramon VI – Mechanical Engineer at Dow Chemical.
- Lizette – Senior Employee and Industrial Relations Advisor at Shell.
- Luis – Psychiatrist in Los Angeles.
- Ramon VI – Mechanical Engineer at Dow Chemical.
- Two grandchildren (so far).
- Deeply values family legacy and continuity, having rebuilt the stability lost through emigration.
- Married to Maria for 47 years; both Cuban immigrants.
- Philosophy & Growth:
- Credits hardship and immigration for building resilience and gratitude.
- Life theme: “Rebuild what was lost” — restoring family legacy and multi-generational progress.
- Found purpose in mentorship and developing others, guiding young engineers at Shell, some of whom rose to executive ranks.
- Believes success is measured by helping others reach their potential.
- Credits hardship and immigration for building resilience and gratitude.
- Community Involvement (Post-Retirement):
- Serves as Board Chair for Puentes New Orleans, supporting Hispanic youth in education and career development.
- Advocates for mentorship, awareness of available resources, and building character through service.
- Creates personal “life projects” such as family photo books and recorded life stories for his children and grandchildren.
- Serves as Board Chair for Puentes New Orleans, supporting Hispanic youth in education and career development.
- Core Values & Reflections:
- Gratitude, reflection, education, family, and giving back.
- Advises youth to be self-aware, seek mentors, and make deliberate career choices.
- Finds joy in legacy-building and giving back to the community that once helped him.
- Gratitude, reflection, education, family, and giving back.
- Legacy Vision:
- Views his life as “mission accomplished” — rebuilt family stability, achieved professional excellence, and established a foundation for future generations.
- Hopes to see a future “Vallejo at Princeton” as a symbolic continuation of his family’s pursuit of excellence.
- Views his life as “mission accomplished” — rebuilt family stability, achieved professional excellence, and established a foundation for future generations.