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The Jewish Press | April 7, 2017 | a9

Renee and Randy Ratner

annette van de kamp-wRight be a challenge to recreate some of the childJewish Press Editor hood togetherness. xecutive diRectoR “My maternal Grandmother had nine of the Nebraska grandchildren and Renee is the only one Jewish Historical who still lives in Omaha,” Randy said. Society, Renee Rat“When we were younger, we often had famner Corcoran has ily reunions coinciding with my Grandthis to say about her mother’s special birthdays, but after my brother Randy: Grandmother passed away, unfortunately it “He’s a good guy.” is quite rare for us to be together. There Renee is the oldest of three; sister Susan is have been occasions like funerals and wednext, and Randy is the youngest. Parents dings when many, though not all of us, have were the late Phil and Evelyn (Babe) Ratner. been together, but I cannot recall when all Phil and Babe raised their family at 5323 nine of us with our respective families were Western Avenue. Now that they are adults, there are a few more miles between these siblings; while Renee has continued to call Omaha home, brother Randy lives in Dallas, Texas. “We always got along pretty well,” Renee said. “As the youngest and the only boy, he was the apple of my parents’ eye. He was adorable. And he might not want to hear this, because he is a big-shot attorney now that he’s grown up, but as a little boy, he was full of mischief. And when he was in high school, he worked for Lucy White at Beth El. I remember she used to call him ‘baby’.” Some of Randy’s fondest memories from when he was younger include time spent with friends and family: “Most of my neighborSusan, Renee and Randy Ratner hood friends remained dear friends from Harrison Elementary last all in one place.” School through Central High School. My Renee concurs: “He hasn’t been here in Mother’s brother, Selwyn Roffman, lived one Omaha for a while. His son Adam used to block from our home with his wife Marie meet him for Husker games once a year, but and his three children, and my Mother’s SisAdam is older now and married with kids. ter, Barbara (Tootsie) lived with her husband Today, Randy has three grandsons, so we Jerry and their three daughters one block talk about them often. I love hearing about around the corner. We always spent time tothe work he does for his synagogue, Temple gether for birthdays, secular and non-secular Emmanuel in Dallas. He follows what I do holidays. My immediate family always spent and we talk at least once a week. He likes to holidays with the families of mom’s brother text me pictures of his family so we can and sister, and we also typically sat together keep track of each other that way.” for High Holidays at Beth El Synagogue.” While Renee is proud of Randy’s profes“My mother used to call him her ‘little sional accomplishments, he returns the senTeivel,’ her little devil,” Renee remembers. timent regarding the great work Renee has “He was a pain in the neck when he was done with the Nebraska Jewish Historical little. I remember you had to go through his Society. For many years, Renee has been the bedroom to get to mine. I would come keeper of any and all records related to Jewhome late and step on all the toy soldiers he ish Omaha, creating and maintaining a vast had sitting out all over the floor. He was in archive of stories, photos and documents of the emergency room every year. Even when the community. he was already away at college, he came “Whenever I happen to meet people from home and cut his hand on a can of tuna.” Omaha and I tell them Renee is my sister, I Due to the four-year difference in age, hear rave reviews about her work,” he said. Randy remembers them not being super“But I am also very proud of her because close when he was little. Renee was a great caregiver for my Parents “As adults, we have become much closer, as they grew older and needed help, which even though living so far apart,” he said. was of great comfort to me given my disRenee agrees: “When he went to the Unitance from Omaha.” versity of Texas and Law school, I used to Sibling relationships can be different from call him every Friday afternoon from colthose you have with friends, Renee admits. lege. When we both became young adults, There will always be certain things that that age difference kind of disappeared, and are more comfortable to discuss with a we did a lot more together, genuinely began friend, rather than family,” she said. “Howto like each other’s company and spending ever, family never goes away. I know there is time together. a special connection Randy and I will alAs with so many families, when siblings ways have, no matter what. He will always move to different parts of the country, it can be there for me, no questions asked.”

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