RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 100; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native of the Brighton Park community, Gerald Ratner was the loving husband of the late Eunice, nee Payton; and
WHEREAS, Born on December 17, 1913, Gerald Ratner was a self-made man who rose from humble beginnings on the Southwest Side to become a prominent Chicago real estate attorney and philanthropist; and
WHEREAS, When Gerald Ratner was just five years old, his mother, Sarah, was left to raise three children; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner grew up in a one-bedroom apartment behind a small shop near 41st Street and Kedzie Avenue out of which his mother sold candy, ice cream and tobacco; and
WHEREAS, As a young boy, Gerald Ratner witnessed his mother's resolute work ethic as she worked from 6 a.m. until midnight, catering to workers of the nearby Crane Co. plumbing supply factory; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner graduated at age 16 as the valedictorian of his class at Chicago's Marshall High School and enrolled at the University of Chicago where he was awarded a full academic scholarship; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner commuted to class from the Southwest Side by street car and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1935; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1937; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, Gerald Rainer served in the United States Army in Africa where he processed German and Italian prisoners of war; and
WHEREAS, Following the war, Gerald Ratner co-founded the law firm of Gould & Ratner in Chicago where he practiced law for more than 75 years; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner represented high-profile clients such as the Crown family in business and real estate deals, among them the sale of the Empire State Building; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Ratner was a philanthropist who generously supported the Universit...
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