RSA Pays Tribute to Matilde Ramos Pinto

Dearest Matilde, what an incredible time we had together. We met and became fast friends at a party years before you came to work for me. Even before your interview I persuaded you to come to Mother London with me to meet Tommy Frankau. You proved to be a natural; always interested, always learning, always curious and unbelievably and sometimes annoyingly focussed on the job at hand. Never complaining, never saying no, always there for us night or day, always caring.

I’ll miss our Joe Wicks lockdown Zooms, our mad Chemical Brothers adventures following our friend Adam Smith around Europe, our massive Christmas Chinese lunches – marshalling 40 well-fed cats from table to cinema screen, our never-ending Cannes villa party supermarket shops, you always made it memorable. 

I remember your smile, your laugh, your energy, your quiet independence. You are forever in my mind and heart, always bursting with pride. 

Matilde was a wonderful friend and colleague who I’ll forever remember. One of the things I most admired about her was that she was the person at any dinner or gathering who always was able to connect with anyone and always made everyone a part of the conversation and made them feel welcome and significant. Her warmth was simply magnificent and something I’ll keep with me in my memories of her. 

I first met Matilde in Lisbon while we were shooting, just before she moved to California. Very quickly, Matilde became my friend and my executive producer in the US; the most tenacious, determined, joyful, and kind person I've ever met. I felt understood and protected by her. She was the kind of person with whom everything seemed possible, even the craziest projects. 

Last November, she was organizing our shoot for Meta in Iceland from San Francisco. We had so many problems to solve to shoot and deliver two commercials in less than a month. Despite being almost eight months pregnant, she worked day and night, solving one problem after another with her signature positive vibe. Imagine my surprise when she came to the set on the freezing glacier to support me. That's the kind of person Matilde was, never afraid of anything. We talked about accomplishing a thousand more projects together. She was starting a beautiful family with Diego and a fantastic career at RSA. She was the kind of person I’d wish for you all to have as a friend and as an EP. I will miss her so much, but as a tribute, I will try to keep the same smile she always had, no matter what.

Matilde. When I say your name out loud it breathes life into you and your family’s legacy. When I say your name, I can’t help but smile at the good times and the laughs we had. Every time I say your name I remember how wonderful and kind you were - to me, to my family, to the world. 

You were an angel on earth, a loving mother and wife, my rep and then my EP, but also my friend. 

You were always the calm - storm or no storm.  And you always led with love. We were all blessed to have met someone like you and we will miss you dearly but within your name lies so many beautiful memories which we will all cherish forever, Matilde. 

We have all been struggling with how to process the tragic and sudden loss of four beautiful lives in San Francisco. To say there are no words would be doing them a disservice, and witnessing how incredible the families of Matilde and Diego have conducted themselves these past few weeks is beyond comprehension. We honour and cherish the times we spent with Matilde. Her husky voice and smile are still following me around and I am grateful that I can still hear her. 

 

I remember when she first joined RSA and how so many people had told me I simply had to meet her; that despite having no previous sales experience, they all felt she would be perfect for the role. How right they all were, especially Damiano. Her emotional intelligence is not something you come across often. 

 

She was instrumental in bringing the UK and the US offices closer together and I know that we are all united in our love for Matilde. She was so genuine, an absolute joy to be around and brought such positivity to the world. I am now truly lost for words.

 

Matilde, we will never forget you - 

Your elegant, natural beauty, 

and your classical and bohemian style,

Your inimitable, melodic and gently husky voice,

And your frequent bouts of bouncing laughter.

Your supportive and caring personality 

And your creative, inquisitive mind.

Your youthful energy, childlike wonder and optimism 

And your soothing, wise and seasoned soul.  

 

You deeply touched all of us who met you, spent time with you, worked with you, enjoyed good times with you. 

You helped the people you worked with bring their vision to life.

You took the greatest pride in sharing and promoting the work of the artists you collaborated with.

And although rational and a realist, you also beamed with positivity and made your friends and colleagues feel good about themselves.

And you kept your mind on visions for a better world. 

and you began to make your own dreams come true. 

Your potential blossomed and 

You and Diego and your babies, Joaquim and Caue knew and know true love. 

You spoke often and lovingly of your parents and your brother 

And your life in Portugal and around the world - the art of diplomacy in your soul.

You found ways to make each day an exploration, a new adventure.

Culture, humanity, and ecology inspired you as you were a citizen of all the world.  

Dignity, grace, and fineness define you, and nothing will defy your shining spirit in this universe. 

Matilde, we will never forget you.