SUSAN RATNER

RATNER--Susan Scheman, a longtime resident of Short Hills, NJ, passed away peacefully in her home on October 14, 2022. She was 58. Born May 6, 1964 in Brooklyn, NY, 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 party. They were together over 43 years, from high school to college sweethearts at Columbia and Barnard, respectively. Following her early acceptance to Barnard College, Susan spent the second half of her senior year abroad at Tel Aviv University, inspiring a lifelong interest in Israel and a deep connection to her Jewish faith. Susan began pre-med at Barnard, but after a disastrous summer physics course, she ultimately declared a political science major. Susan graduated from Barnard in 1986, and remained a proud, active alumna for the last 36 years. She served as a member of the President's Advisory Council of Barnard College, sponsored the Susan Ratner '86 Writing and Speaking Pedagogy Series, and endowed the Jessie G. Scheman Scholarship in honor of her grandmother. Susan married Evan in 1988, and graduated from NYU Law School 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." A natural optimist and rock for her family, Susan was an exuberant wife and mother, a devoted daughter and sister, a steadfast friend, and a champion of the arts, women's rights and Jewish culture. She will be deeply missed. 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. For those wishing to honor Susan's memory, the family has established the Susan Scheman Ratner '86 Scholarship Fund at Barnard College. For more information, please contact Deborah Braverman at dbraverm@barnard.edu.