Richard S. Ratcliff 1931-2018

Richard S. Ratcliff, 86, died Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in Holland, Mich. 

A native of Oak Park and River Forest, Dick graduated from Oak Park High in 1948. In high school he developed his love of language and writing, and excelled in athletic activity, winning an award his senior year for best defensive guard in Cook County. He attended University of Michigan on a football scholarship and stayed for seven years, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and a law degree. 

Dick met Patty Cullen on spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They grew up three blocks from each other and were two years apart at Oak Park High School, but did not meet until Dick was in law school and Patty was teaching in Indianapolis. They married on April 14, 1956. 

Dick served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1959, attaining rank of first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. Dick joined the law firm of Keck Cushman Mahin & Cate and was made partner in 1968. His practice focused on general corporate law with an emphasis on labor law. In the last years of his professional career, he was the village attorney of River Forest. 

He had Alzheimer's disease in the last years of his life and retained his sense of humor and love of music until the end. 

Preceding him in death were his parents, Kathryn and Elwood Ratcliff; and his older brother, Robert Ratcliff. 

He is survived by his wife Patty; their three children, Tom Ratcliff of Holland, Mich., Kate Ratcliff of Marlboro, Vt., and David Ratcliff of Muskegon, Mich.; three grandchildren, Patrick Schneeweis of Baltimore, Md., Michael Schneeweis of Boulder, Colo., and Maxwell Ratcliff of Grandville, Mich.; and his sister, Sandra Caswell of Hilton Head, N.C.