Michael Ratner

Michael S. Ratner, 83, passed away peacefully on June 1st 2025 in Indio, California. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to the late David Ratner and Thelma (Wasserman) Ratner and grew up in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his brother, Malcolm Ratner in 1993.
Michael graduated from Classical High School in 1959 and earned a B.B.A. degree from UMass in 1963. He went on to receive a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1966. He started working in Springfield, Massachusetts for the law firm of Wilson, Keady and Ratner P.C. in 1966 which then merged with Bacon, Cohen, Salvage & Fialky P.C. in 1979 to form what is now known as Bacon Wilson P.C. He served as the Managing Partner of the practice for decades before he fully retired and moved to Indio, California. Michael had great success as an attorney and was known as the preeminent real estate and land use attorney in Western Massachusetts. He was the former chairman of the Hampden County Bar Association. He also served as general counsel to Ludlow Savings Bank and Western New England College, where he was an adjunct professor at the law school. Michael served on many other boards and community organizations.
Michael will be remembered for his generosity, compassion, humor and love for his family. He was a great friend to many and enjoyed socializing at his regular card games and golf outings. Michael was an avid Boston sports fan and a Hartford Whalers zealot.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ratner of Indio, California, child Todd Ratner and his children Dylan Ratner, Jake Ratner and Jordan Ratner of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, child Tiffany (Ratner) Dacey, her husband Dennis Dacey and their children Matt Dacey and Drew Dacey of Simsbury, Connecticut, and sister Mimi Hershenson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday June 10th at 12p at Ascher Zimmerman Funeral Home, 44 Sumner Avenue, Springfield, MA.
Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association and St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.