Susan Ratner Death, Obituary – On Friday, October 14, 2022, Susan Scheman Ratner, a longtime resident of Short Hills, New Jersey, tragically and unexpectedly passed away, leaving her family, close relatives, and other loved ones in utter loss and sorrow. When Susan went away, her loved ones and friends were distraught.
Susan Ratner, who was 58 years old at the time of her untimely but peaceful departure in her home while surrounded by her cherished family and other close relatives, was born to Sandy and Terry Ratner on May 6, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York. Susan was a vivacious wife and mother, a loving daughter and sister, a loyal friend, and a champion of the arts, women’s rights, and Jewish culture. She was a natural optimist and a rock for her family. She’ll be deeply missed.
Susan spent her early childhood in Fort Huachuca, AZ, and Huntington, NY, before the family settled in Smithtown, NY. After fifteen years of straight A’s, local lifeguarding, and a robust summer camp theatre career, Susan met the love of her life, Evan Ratner, as a high school freshman in 1979 at a friend’s sweet sixteen parties. They were together for over 43 years, from high school to college sweethearts at Columbia and Barnard, respectively.
Susan spent the second half of her senior year studying abroad at Tel Aviv University after receiving an early entrance to Barnard College. This experience sparked a lifelong passion for Israel and a strong bond with her Jewish faith. Susan started out at Barnard as a pre-med student, but after a catastrophic summer physics course, she switched to political science. Since graduating from Barnard in 1986, Susan has proudly and actively supported the school. She participated in Barnard College’s President’s Advisory Council, funded the Susan Ratner ’86 Writing and Speaking Pedagogy Series, and established the Jessie G. Scheman Scholarship in her grandmother’s memory. Susan married Evan in 1988 and earned a law degree from NYU in 1989.
Susan was known as a voracious reader, a dedicated yogi, and an incorrigible foodie, especially when it came to salmon, Sancerre, and coffee ice cream. In her 30s, Susan took a page from Evan’s professional athletic career and began training for triathlons, which became an enduring passion (case in point: Susan’s iconic email address, triathletemom@comcast.net). Susan had an infectious, machine-gun laugh and a brassy alto belt, as flaunted in car ride sing-alongs to Elton John, Carole King, and her forever crush, Josh Groban. She had a series of favorite aphorisms, or “Susan-isms,” for every situation, including “Life is a series of cost-benefit analyses,” and the ever-applicable, ever-exasperating “It is what it is.”
Susan is survived by her husband Evan, her sons Alex, Matthew, and Daniel, her parents Sandy and Terry, her sister Robin and her brother Michael. Ever the endurance athlete, Susan faced her illness with remarkable grace and courage and was so grateful to the community of doctors, aides, hospice workers, and family members who helped her through the last eight months. The funeral service is to be held on Sunday, October 16, 2022, from 11:00 am at The Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel 68 Old Short Hills Road Livingston, NJ 07039. Burial is to also take place the same day from 12:30 pm, at The Beth Israel Cemetery 1098 Woodbridge Center Drive Woodbridge, NJ 07095.
Funerals and burial arrangements are entrusted to The Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel For those wishing to honor Susan’s memory, the family has established the Susan Scheman Ratner ’86 Scholarship Fund at Barnard College. Donations can be made using a credit card online at barnard.edu/give (please designate your gift to the Susan Scheman Ratner ’86 Scholarship Fund) or a check made payable to Barnard College and mailed to Barnard College, Box AS 3009, Broadway, New York, NY 10027. Please contact devops@barnard.edu or (212) 853-8019 if you have any concerns or would like more information about additional ways to donate.
