William E. Rattner, age 82, of Evanston, passed away March 16, 2019. Devoted husband of 55 years to Gale (Golovan) Rattner; dear father to David (Mollie Karger) Rattner; loving grandfather to Celia and Elsie Rattner; dear brother to Marian (late Dr. Eugene) Gootnick; dear brother-in-law to Steven (Bo) Golovan; admired cousin to Jonathan (Brenda Marsh) Weiss; proud uncle to Carol Nan (Rick) Cosmer, Susie Guldbeck, and Nancy (Ken) Beigel. Preceded in death by his parents Dr. Herbert and Ethel Rattner. Bill was born September 26, 1936 in Chicago. He was raised in South Shore and graduated from the University of Chicago Lab School and Francis W. Parker. Received his undergraduate degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his JD from Harvard Law School. Practiced corporate litigation for 37 years. Upon retirement, Bill served for 14 years as the Executive Director of The Lawyers for the Creative Arts. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law; Columbia College Chicago; and the Graham School of Continuing Studies at the University of Chicago. He served as Chairman of the City of Evanston Board of Ethics; as the President of the Chicago Chapter of the American Jewish Committee; as Trustee of the Evanston Arts Center; and a Board Member of Park National Bank. As a member of the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue, he travelled to Israel on a delegation with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin to foster Catholic-Jewish relations. His passions included a love for all music, especially opera; acting in Evanston's Upstagers theater group; and a fascination with the Arctic including going on two dog sled exhibitions. He was an insatiable learner, a voracious reader, and a perpetual student of history. He had a serious crush on Queen Elizabeth II and amassed a large collection of Royal Family memorabilia. His caustic humor and warm compassion will be deeply missed. Funeral Thursday, March 21 at 11:30am at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette. Interment Westlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Lawyers for the Creative Arts www.law-arts.org/donate. For funeral information 847-256-5700.

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Published by Chicago Tribune on Mar. 19, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for William Rattner

14 Entries

December 7, 2019

I've known Billy for many years but, after moving to California in 1965, we rarely saw one another. Then, in 2016, I ran into him at a book signing in Winnetka--and what a wonderful feeling it was to reunite with him if even for a short time.

I was planning to go back to Chicago this coming summer, and an evening with Billy and Gale was at the top of my list. And then, to my great sadness, I learned that he had passed on.

Billy was great fun to be with and was always surrounded by interesting persons--even back in the days when we first began lawyering. I recall distinctly a fascinating evening we spent with him and Gale at which his sister's close friend, actor Nehemiah Persoff, held forth for hours and we all got a lesson in the complex machinations of Hollywood.

Rest in peace, Billy. Sorry we won't be breaking bread together.

And our love and sympathies to Gale.

Steve Kanne

Jane Ditelberg

May 1, 2019

I am saddened to hear of Bill's passing. He was a tremendous lawyer who taught many of us skills of the craft. I will remember always his kind words of encouragement to a very nervous summer intern in 1990. He will be missed.

Julie Palmer

April 15, 2019

Bill was a mentor and friend to me throughout my early career. He was always encouraging and supportive. He knew how to lighten difficult situations with well-placed humor. I am lucky to have been the beneficiary of his friendship and guidance.

I send my deepest condolences. May his memory be a blessing.

Mary Kay Martire

March 28, 2019

Bill was a mentor to me in my early days of practicing law at Hopkins & Sutter. During a particularly nasty litigation matter, where I was upset about being personally attacked by opposing counsel, Bill assured me not to worry. He said "Mary Kay, don't you worry. Opponents argue the law if it supports their position. If they don't have the law they'll attack your client, and if they have neither the law nor the facts on their side they'll attack the lawyer." He said this much more persuasively than I can repeat it hear. I can't tell you how many times I've thought of that advice over the years and passed it on to young lawyers. Bill was a treasure -- I'm so sorry for your loss. Mary Kay Martire

Barbara Koenen

March 21, 2019

Bill helped thousands of musicians, artists, and art organizations in Chicago -- he made a made a real impact on the entire city's creative community for decades. He was generous and patient, but knew his way around the ropes. I am glad to have known and worked with him. May he rest in peace.

Michael Weinberg

March 21, 2019

Bill was a mentor to me when I began practicing law at Levy and Erens in the mid-seventies. I admired his intellect, good humor, ethical grounding and skills as an attorney. I had the good fortune to get together with him from time to time in subsequent years, and loved hearing about his new involvement in arts representation. I will truly miss him. My condolences to the entire family. Michael Weinberg

Joel Greenburg

March 21, 2019

I worked with Bill for many years on The AJC Board. He was on of my heroes and a real mentor to me as we worked together through the years. I will miss him. May his memory be as a blessing.

March 21, 2019

To the family of Bill Rattner:

He was an amazing attorney and I appreciated the direct way in which he gave and communicated direction that kept us moving forward. He helped us get started and we will never forget the time and efforts he sowed into helping us start our organization! -Styles 4 Kidz, NFP, Executive Director, Tamekia Swint

Beth Shadur

March 21, 2019

I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing and send my deepest condolences to your family. My father, Hon. Milton Shadur, admired Bill greatly, and I was so grateful for his help for and support of artists. He was generous with his knowledge and help, and will be missed by the art community that he passionately served.May his memory be a blessing.Beth Shadur

Ines Sommer

March 20, 2019

My deepest condolences go to Bill's wife Gale and the Rattner family! After I attended Bill's workshop at Lawyers for the Creative Arts (LCA), he went out of his way to advise us on the incorporation process for our small non-profit media arts organization, which was so very helpful. I believe he helped many other LCA artist clients in the same manner and I will always be grateful for Bill's tremendous knowledge, wise advice and great sense of humor. He was truly a mensch. May his memory be a blessing.

Amy Wicker

March 20, 2019

I'm so saddened to hear of Bill's passing. I so enjoyed working with him over the years. He knew his stuff, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be sorely missed.

March 19, 2019

Dear Gale and family,
I am saddened to learn of the loss of you husband. May G D watch over you and yours.
Your old friend,
Shirley Alter Franks

Jan, Marci, Bill, Stacy

Jan Feldman

March 19, 2019

All of us at Lawyers for the Creative Arts extend our deepest condolences to the Rattner family. Bill is truly a part of the DNA of this organization and has affected all our lives in profound ways.

In 2000, LCA was going through a tough period, and Scott Hodes knew that Bill was looking for a new challenge. Scott steered Bill to us, and Bill quickly righted the ship. Under his leadership, we again excelled in our mission of providing free legal help to the arts community. We developed strong educational programs for artists and others aimed at helping lawyers to represent artists in arts law. And, we began our Benefit Luncheons, inspirational and entertaining programs people actually looked forward to attending. That tradition continues today to celebrate the arts community that Bill did so much to nourish and support. LCA's standing today can be traced directly to Bill's wisdom, creativity and drive to excellence.

The Staff and Boards of LCA, our many volunteer lawyers, and thousands of clients will remember Bill with great affection. He was smart, perceptive, with a sharp sense of humor that was always good-hearted a true original.

March 19, 2019

I was a classmate of Bill's at Francis Parker School and remember him with fondness. He had attended U. of Chicago High School, which at the time ended after 10th grade, and started at Parker when we were juniors. As seniors we had a class in anthropology and for one of our assignments had to write a paper on "culture change." He told me years later at a class reunion that he wished he'd had the nerve to write a paper on his own "culture change" experience of coming to Parker. I think our instructor would have much appreciated this! The obituary mentions his caustic humor and warm compassion, and I would go along with this. His humor was never nasty! Our class' 65th reunion will be later this spring, and I know all of us will miss him at it.

Dorothy Ramm

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