Fort Worth Educator: Ramon Niño Dies After Brief Battle With Cancer
North Side High School mariachi director passed away on November 5, weeks after being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.
By Jack Weber ·
Ramon Niño, the longtime music director at North Side High School in Fort Worth, died on Thursday, Nov. 5. He was a resident of the North Side community and had served as an educator for 24 years before his death.
Niño’s wife, Imelda Martinez, stated that doctors identified his illness in late September. They initially faced difficulty determining the specific type of cancer before confirming a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. This disease forms in the bile ducts. Martinez noted that only about six weeks elapsed between the initial diagnosis and his death.
The couple met while working in the Fort Worth ISD system. Both had previously considered careers in engineering before choosing music. Martinez played the violin, while Niño played the trombone. Niño was born in Falfurrias, a small town in South Texas, where he had limited exposure to mariachi music prior to his teaching career.
Martinez explained that Niño had no prior experience with the genre when he began directing the ensemble. She said he had never taught or played mariachi before taking the position. Her students helped introduce him to the style by creating music for him to study. Martinez described the process by stating that he let his students teach him. Over time, he became deeply immersed in the genre and led the school’s mariachi ensemble to an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Martinez described Niño as a teacher who made students feel seen. She said his legacy involved helping individuals realize their capabilities even when they doubted themselves. She emphasized that his role extended beyond being a music educator to helping people discover their potential.
The family has expressed gratitude to the students and community members who have gathered to mourn his loss. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at North Side High School. Organizers have asked attendees to wear yellow, which was Niño’s favorite color.
Niño’s death marks the end of a career that began with a lack of specific genre expertise and grew into a national performance achievement. His ensemble’s journey to Carnegie Hall stands as a testament to the development of the program under his guidance.
