David Noel Ramírez Padilla, Tec de Monterrey’s rector from 2011 to 2017 and Rector Emeritus, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
David Garza, current Executive President of the Tec and the rector who succeeded him at the time, paid tribute to him and recalled his legacy in a press release.
“During his more than 55 years at the Tec, he was an extraordinary professor, degree program director,department and division academic, regional rector and rector of Tecnológico de Monterrey,” he said.
The Tec’s Chairman of the Board Ricardo Saldívar extended his condolences and recognized his great legacy.
“I deeply feel the loss of David Noel Ramírez Padilla, professor and rector emeritus of our institution, an extraordinary, exemplary, and inspiring human being. A great leader, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Words fail to describe him, his legacy and record,” he said.
From scholarship student to professor and rector
Originally from San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco, his first contact with Tec of Monterrey was as a scholarship student in 1967.
He used to say he never imagined that the boy who needed support to study at the Tec would not only graduate but also become the rector of the same institution.
“I struggled a lot. There were many challenges. There were times when I sometimes felt the urge to return to my hometown.
It’s a good thing that in those moments of crisis, I would say ‘Keep studying, keep studying... despite the obstacles!’” he told CONECTA in an interview in 2017.
David Noel graduated as a Public Accountant in 1972 and almost immediately afterwards completed a Master’s in Business Administration in 1974. For both, he received an Honorable Mention of Excellence.
“He was an example of an inspiring professor who was in love with his vocation; he taught thousands of students for more than 110 uninterrupted semesters,” recalled David Garza.
![David Noel Ramírez, rector emérito del Tec de Monterrey.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/david-noel-ramirez.jpg)
When he was rector, Garza recalled that he promoted the design of the Tec21 educational model, demonstrating his commitment to educational innovation and academic quality.
Furthermore, National Professors’ Meetings were organized during his administration and the Inspirational Professor Award was established.
This award recognizes teachers who have had a professional and personal impact on their students. “He was an example of this himself,” said Garza, who is currently Executive President.
His greatest legacy, human sensitivity
“What did I contribute? Perhaps I’m very stubborn: my famous human sensitivity,” said David Noel in his own words about his legacy.
“For me, that’s the important legacy I’m leaving. That’s what I think,” he said in an interview after finishing his term as rector.
“What did I contribute? My famous human sensitivity. For me, that’s the important legacy I’m leaving...”
David Garza remembers David Noel as a leader with deep human sensitivity who inspired professors, staff, and managers with his modesty, accessibility, and warmth.
“He promoted a comprehensive vision in the training of our students, in the exercise of teaching and leadership at the Tec, highlighting the importance of the ‘social mortgage,’ ethics, and civic responsibility in everything we do,” he recalled.
He added that “Personally, David Noel was a great mentor and guide, offering me his unconditional support.
He was an inspiration for my passion for education and for doing good for others.”
![David Noel Ramírez, con alumnos del Tec de Monterrey](/sites/default/files/inline-images/david-noel-ramirez-rector-emerito-tec-de-monterrey-alumnos-rayo-emprendedor.jpg)
The Bolt of Enterprise
Born in San Juan de los Lagos, that’s where his legacy began
When he was 16, the Tec knocked at his door
He never said “no” to anything, tenacious from head to toe
He was determined to make his life a masterpiece (...)
Pushing forward, with an enterprising spirit
Adversity is his friend, and he is the best example of life
After fifty years, his message of human sensitivity has left a mark,
His passion for giving, for transcending through teaching, is his true calling,
Fighting against indifference and fulfilling the “social mortgage.”
While everyone already knows who we’re talking about,
And although his name is the most recognized at the Tec
Today we thank you, David Noel
The Bolt of Enterprise
These are some of the lyrics to the Ballad of El Rayo Emprendedor (The Bolt of Enterprise), composed by Tec students during his time as rector.
The students at the college had started to refer to David Noel’s gesture of inviting young people to be entrepreneurs as “El Rayo Emprendedor” (The Bolt of Enterprise).
Here is the story in his own words:
“Well, I communicate a lot using non-verbal language. I speak very intensely. I say: ‘Let’s move forward, Never fail, Let’s go, let’s go!’” (making gestures).
So, when the students saw my messages, they would say ‘You’re firing bolts of inspiration.’
The story of the bolt of enterprise became very famous. When I go to campuses, they say ‘Please pose for a photo! Throw me a lightning bolt’” he recalled with a laugh.
In one of his famous life lessons, he would tell his students:
“Be entrepreneurs. It’s better to fail trying to succeed in life than to give up for fear of failure.”
“It’s better to fail trying to succeed in life than to give up for fear of failure”.
Resilience, tenacity, and faith
“Professor, you don’t know me. I’m in my fourth term. I want to say that I’m alive thanks to you (...) I was ready to kill myself because my parents had just divorced, and I was tired of existing.
After listening to you, I said, ‘After everything he’s shared with us about everything he struggled with to get to where he is, I can’t make that decision,’ and I want to thank you.”
That was the message that a student from Monterrey campus wrote to David Noel the year he retired as rector.
David Noel used the adversities he had faced in life as an example to inspire others.
![David Noel Ramírez, rector emérito del Tec de Monterrey, durante una pláticas con egresados.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/david-noel-ramirez-rector-emerito-tec-de-monterrey-conferencia-exatec.jpg)
In his time, he had been inspired by people such as Victor Frankl, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and author of the book Man’s Search for Meaning, as well as other historical figures such as Eugenio Garza Sada, Martin Luther King, and Jesus Christ.
“I’ve been asked ‘Why do you cling so much to the idea that God is your friend and mentor?’” he said.
He replied that he had grown up in an environment that believes in a supreme being who loves you and gives you many skills to create value.
Ramírez also greatly admired Tec de Monterrey founder Eugenio Garza Sada for his spirit of service and tenacity.
“The figure of Don Eugenio, a man who left a deep impression on me,” he said.
“I met him when I was a student. He had a great ability to add value to society without drawing attention to himself(...) modest, humble (...) a strong man in the face of adversity, who never gave up when faced with challenges.”
Making a mark on society
Beyond the impact he made through Tec de Monterrey, David Noel also left a direct mark on various areas of society.
“His influence transcended the Institution. He was an member of the board at several companies, civil and religious associations, and professional colleges,” said David Garza.
“He was president of the Civic Board of Institutions and the Institute of Accountants in Nuevo León.
“He was generous with his time and talent in sharing his professional and personal knowledge, giving numerous talks throughout the country,” he recalled.
Ramírez was also the author of more than 10 books, a husband, a son, a father, and a grandfather.
On behalf of the Tec, Garza extended his condolences to his family and reaffirmed the legacy he will leave at the institution.
“Our deepest condolences to Magdalena, who was always by his side supporting the Tec’s causes, as well as to his children Maquita and David Noel, his son-in-law Pablo and daughter-in-law Michelle, his grandchildren, and other relatives.
His legacy will remain in every corridor and classroom, but above all, in every person he touched with his deep love for the Tec. His mark is deep and indelible and has been magnified over time.”
The institution announced that a special tribute to the Rector Emeritus will be held on the Tec’s Monterrey campus in the next few days.
“His legacy will remain in every hallway, in every classroom, but, above all, in every person he touched with his deep love for the Tec. His mark is deep and indelible.” - David Garza, Executive President of the Tec
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