Remembering Alexander Ratner: 1934-2023

BY SARA MINTZ

Alexander Ratner was born on January 5, 1934, in Moscow. He was only 7 years old when Nazi Germany invaded his home. To avoid persecution, he and his family fled to Orenburg, Russia. This is where they stayed, hidden away, until the end of the war in 1945.

After the war, they returned to Moscow where Alexander met his wife, Ida. After receiving multiple letters from Ida’s sister who was living in Buffalo about how great it was and how the climate was similar to that in Moscow, Alexander and Ida decided to apply for visas. On July 5, 1981, they came to the USA with their son Ilya. They received their citizenship in 1986, something that made Alexander extremely proud.

Before coming to America, Alexander was a coach for the Russian Speed Skating Team, as well as a masseur. In the States, Alexander continued his profession, and was even featured in a 1986 article in The Amherst Bee, where he was quoted as saying, “My hands are my life”.

One thing that everyone says about Alexander, is that he was always proud to live in America. Any time there was a toast, he would always do a toast for America first saying, “God Bless America.”

Alexander and Ida had a wonderful life together in Western New York. Ida passed away on April 12, 2017. Alexander passed away this past May and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his son Ilya, daughterin-law Rimma, his grandchildren Abby, Michael, and Josh, as well as his great-grandchildren, and dear friend Manya Matlin.

The following individuals in our community passed away during the period from April 18 – June 18, 2023. May their memories forever be a blessing, and may their loved ones be comforted among the mourners of Zion.

Lenore Altman

Nancy Biltekoff

Beni G. Berger

Nancy Bloom

Joyce L. Cooper

Donald Fineberg

Marvin Frankel

Gerald K. Freedman

Robert Freudenheim

Patricia R. Gamler

Neil Goodman

Esther Greene

Janet Rabiroff Hess

Joel W. Jaffee

Marlene Joseph

Sharon G. Madden

Gail Mills

Kaaren Norman

Herman Platt

Alexander Ratner

Annette Rosenberg

Morton Rothstein, Ph.D.

Rachel Schwarzberg

Mark Sheppard

Joyce Shupe

Steven Silver

Paul Teryl

Lynn Ullman

*If we inadvertently missed printing the listing of your loved one, please write to ellen@buffalojewishfederation.org and we will include the name next month.