Richard R. Ratner, 80, of Dartmouth, passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the husband of Jean E. (Jason) Ratner, they shared 59 years of marriage.
Mr. Ratner was born in New Bedford, son of the late Richard R. Ratner, Sr. and the late Marjorie L. (Johnston) Ratner. He lived in Dartmouth for most of his life. Prior to retirement, he worked as a machinist for many different fabrication companies. He was a graduate of the old New Bedford Vocational High School where he learned his machining skills. He was a master mechanic and was known for his ability to fix countless vehicles as well as many other items; If he couldn't find or buy a certain mechanical part he needed, he was known to make the part in his garage. He was always fixing something for someone, including bicycles and lawn mowers for the entire neighborhood for over 50 years. He began doing auto repairs long before he was old enough to drive a car of his own. There was a time his mother got upset with him as a young man because she found a car transmission in his bedroom. He was a classic car and motorcycle enthusiast. Restoration was his passion, especially his antique Indian motorcycles. He was still riding every chance he was able. He was in several different car clubs over the years, The Downshifters, The Prowlers, and The Lost Rebels. Weekly car cruises were a summer event that he really enjoyed attending with his wife Jean. Mr. Ratner was also in the United States Army, one of the top three graduates during his training, he earned the title of high marksman with the M14 rifle. He served overseas in the Vietnam War. When he returned from Vietnam, he vowed to never eat another grain of rice as long as he lived, and he kept his word on that. There were some things that you could count on with him, he’d always have a pocket knife in his pocket, a tape measure on his belt, and his belt buckle was always on his hip instead of the front so he wouldn’t scratch a car he was under the hood of. It was impossible to watch a movie that had old cars in it with him, without him educating you about what each vehicle was, the year, the make, the model, and details about each one. Old tractors, bobcats, backhoes, and similar heavy equipment operations were also something he enjoyed, and he often had old machines that he kept running to do work on the property or to plow snow.
Always tinkering, when his oldest child was about six years old, Mr. Ratner built a farm truck go-kart. Over fifty years later, kids are still enjoying it. Everyone in the family has a few favorite stories about that go-kart and the shenanigans associated with it. Then there’s the Great Pumpkin that he made out of a salvaged metal wrecking ball with fiberglass stem, and eyes from old car tail lights. Every year the family gets together to bring out the Great Pumpkin and gather for the annual group photos around it. It sits proudly beside the custom lamp post he made from an old automobile drive shaft. Mr. Ratner was known to provide a home for a few different people over the years when they were down on their luck. The house was small, but he’d make room. He was also known to rescue critters, from turtles to stray cats, and even baby seagulls. He loved old stories about New England folklore, local ghost stories, shipwrecks, and UFO’s. He was a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock movies, Houdini, and The Twilight Zone television series.
Survivors along with his wife Jean include his 2 daughters: Chevelle Kelly and her husband Donald, Kimberly Casmira and her husband Robert, 2 sons: Richard Ratner III, and Ryan Ratner; sisters: Jane Ruffley and her husband Kenneth, Cheryl Nunes and her husband Frank, Glenys Wolcott and her husband Bill, Lynn Ratner Kahian and her husband Steve; his brother: Royce Ratner; 5 grandchildren: Megan Sylvia, Drew Kelly, Gaven Casmira, Koryn Casmira and Sophie Ratner; 2 great grandchildren: Daniel Kelly and Henry Sylvia; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Memorial visitation hours will be Thursday, September 19, 2024 at Potter Funeral Home from 4-6:30 P.M. Memorial service to which relatives and friends are invited will follow at 6:30 P.M.
Interment will be a private family gathering with military honors, at Evergreen Cemetery in Dartmouth, on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. Family is asked to meet directly at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation in support of American Veterans can be made to Mission 22.