
|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|
|
PASSAGES Donald Ratner
2020-06-06
|
|
This article shared 2840 times since Sat Jun 6, 2020
|
|
Donald Ratner, a lifelong Chicagoan who was a leading figure in Chicago business and philanthropy, passed away Jan. 19, 2020 due to complications from prostate cancer. He is survived by his husband, Dr. Bruce Gober, with whom he spent 50 years, as well as a brother, Larry Ratner, and a cousin, Susan Eisner.
Born at Michael Reese Hospital in 1947, he grew up in Jeffrey Manor and attended Bowen High School and studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He then earned an MBA at University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. During his long career, Ratner held many positions, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer at the Terra Foundation for American Art, a position he held from 1999 until 2015. He also served as CFO and vice president of government relations of Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and worked for many years at Arthur Andersen.
One of the leading figures in Chicago philanthropy, Ratner was known for his tireless support of numerous arts organizations. A lifelong music, art and theater lover, he served on the boards of Steppenwolf Theatre and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago ( serving as treasurer for 18 years, during which the dance company made tremendous progress as an institution ). He also volunteered for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fine Arts Building Foundation and Porchlight Music Theatre. Upon retirement, he volunteered to head a pilot project at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business to help struggling nonprofits streamline its back offices.
"Don's impact on the cultural vibrancy of Chicago is immeasurable and lasting," said Elizabeth Glassman, president and CEO of the Terra Foundation for American Art. "Don never shied away from large, complex projects that dramatically impacted an organization's ability to grow. This was certainly the case at the Terra as, among other important accomplishments, Don spearheaded the sale of our Michigan Avenue real estate, a multi-partner deal that brought much to the foundation's capacity for future grantmaking. Don was a man of many passions including opera, Broadway musicals and travel. Next time you visit the Lyric, look for Bruce and know that Don is there with him. Don's friends and colleagues know that he lived fully. He is a man who will be missed by all." |
 |
|
 |
This article shared 2840 times since Sat Jun 6, 2020
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
| 
|  | PASSAGES: Visual artist, Chicago nightlife scene drag performer legend and hairdresser Jojo Baby 2023-03-16 - Visual artist, Chicago nightlife scene drag performer legend, doll-maker and hairdresser Jojo Baby died March 14 of liver, lung and stomach cancer. They were 51. Baby was born April 10, 1971, in Chicago and grew up ...
| 
|  | World's first transgender MP passes away at 65 2023-03-07 - On March 6, Georgina Beyera pioneering New Zealand politician who, in 1999, became the world's first openly transgender member of Parliamentpassed away at the age of 65. Beyer's friends said she died peacefully in hospice care, ...
| 
|  | Passages: Longtime activist Achebe (Betty) Powell passes away 2023-02-23 - Veteran social justice organizer and educator Achebe (Betty) Powell passed away Feb. 21, according to multiple reports. Powell died of COVID-19 related complications at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Brooklyn, according to a Feb. 22 statement ...
| 
|  | PASSAGES: LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS activist, retired business owner Lauren Verdich 2023-02-16 - Longtime LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS activist and businesswoman Lauren Verdich died Feb. 12 of complications from pancreatic cancer. She was 77. Verdich was born Dec. 30, 1945, in Chicago. She grew up in the Albany Park neighborhood ...
| 
|  | Famed gay publicist Howard Bragman dies at 66 2023-02-12 - Howard Bragman—a gay publicist whose clients included Sharon Osbourne and Stevie Wonder, among many others—died at age 66 after privately battling acute monocytic leukemia, Deadline reported. After graduating from ...
| 
|  | PASSAGES: LGBTQ activist, writer and therapist Dr. Charles Silverstein 2023-02-08 - New York City-based LGBTQ activist, writer and therapist Dr. Charles Silverstein died Jan. 30 of complications from cancer surrounded by family and friends. He was 87. Silverstein was born April 23, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York ...
| 
|  | LGBTQ+ police officer remembered as 'wonder woman' 2022-12-30 - On Dec. 29, the friends and loved ones of LGBTQ+ Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic gathered at the Comfort Inn in Bourbonnais to mark the one-year anniversary of her passing, ABC 7 Chicago reported. The hotel ...
| 
|  | In memoriam: LGBTQ community obituaries 2022 2022-12-27 - The LGBTQ community lost many members in 2022, including at least 35 people in incidents of hate violence against individual transgender people and against patrons of the Club Q bar in Colorado. Here are other memorable ...
| 
|  | Memorial set for Charlotte Newfeld 2022-12-09 - Memorial set for Charlotte Newfeld Memorial services for LGBTQ+ community ally and Lakeview activist Charlotte Newfeld will be Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Ann Sather's on Belmont, from 6-8 p.m. Newfeld died Nov. 17 due to natural causes. She ...
| 
|  | PASSAGES: LGBTQ+ ally, activist and artist Charlotte Newfeld passes away 2022-11-23 - LGBTQ+ ally, activist and artist Charlotte Newfeld died Nov. 17 due to natural causes. She was 91. At the time of her death, Newfeld was living at the Dobson Memory Care facility in Evanston. Newfeld was ...
| 
|  | Passages: Sexologist and activist Dr. Thomas Gertz passes away 2022-11-19 - Sexologist and activist Dr. Thomas Gertz died Oct. 28 due to natural causes. He was 77. At the time of his death, Gertz was in an assisted living facility. He had previously lived at Heartland ...
| 
|  | PASSAGES Singer Aaron Carter dies at 34 2022-11-05 - Singer Aaron Carter—the brother of Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter—has died after apparently drowning at his L.A. home at age 34, according to media reports. TMZ originally reported the news. The outlet said that he was ...
| 
|  | Memorial for Urvashi Vaid to be livestreamed Nov. 3 2022-10-29 - A memorial celebration of the life of Urvashi Vaid will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT at B'Nai Jesherun, 258 W. 88th St., New York City. In-person RSVPs are at capacity. However, the event will ...
| 
|  | 'Will & Grace' actor Leslie Jordan dies in car accident 2022-10-24 - Leslie Jordan—the openly gay actor who rose to fame on Will & Grace as the frenemy of Megan Mullally's Karen Walker and was immediately recognizable by his Southern accent—died in a single-car crash in Hollywood on ...
| 
|  | SHOWBIZ 'P-Valley,' Dan Levy, trans/non-binary panel, Christina Aguilera, Spirit Day 2022-10-23 Video below - Starz has renewed the show P-Valley (the network's most-watched series) for a third season, The Hollywood Reporter noted. The renewal for the series from creator/showrunner Katori Hall arrives more than two months after the sophomore season ...
| |
|
|
|
|