Max Ratner | |
---|---|
Born | Meyer Ratowczer December 26, 1907 |
Died | May 31, 1995 (aged 87) |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Real estate developer |
Known for | Co-founder of Forest City Enterprises |
Spouse | Betty Wohlvert |
Children | Charles Ratner Mark A. Ratner James Ratner Ronald Ratner |
Parent(s) | Pesha Koppelman Ratowczer Moishe Ratowczer |
Family |
Bruce Ratner (nephew) Michael Ratner (nephew) Ellen Ratner (niece) |
Max Ratner (December 26, 1907 - May 31, 1995) was an American real estate developer and philanthropist who co-founded Forest City Enterprises.
Ratner was born Meyer Ratowczer to a Jewish family on December 26, 1907, in Białystok, Poland, the son of Pesha (née Koppelman) and Moishe Ratowczer. [1] [2] In 1921, he immigrated to Cleveland following the lead of his brother Charles and his family adopted the Ratner surname. [1] He graduated from Glenville High School on the east side of Cleveland. [1] In 1929, he graduated with a J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and then worked as an attorney. [1] [2] In the same year, he founded Forest City Materials with his brothers Charles and Leonard, [1] his brother-in-law, Nate Shafran, and his sister, Fannye Ratner Shafran. [3] He served as the company's president from 1929 until 1975 and then as chairman of the board from 1975 until his death in 1995. [1]
In 1986, Forest City and his nephew, Bruce Ratner, formed a joint venture, the Forest City Ratner Companies, which is known for developing Brooklyn. [2] Its projects there included One Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights and Metrotech Center, a large office, commercial and academic complex in downtown Brooklyn. [2]
Ratner was the founder and chairman of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce. [2] [4] He was a supporter of Israel, the Jewish Museum in New York, and was active in the State of Israel Bonds organization. [2] Ratner was a trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, a board member of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, and served as president of the Park Synagogue in Cleveland. [2]
In 1939, Ratner married Betty Wohlvert; they had four sons: Charles "Chuck" Ratner, Mark Ratner, James Ratner, and Ronald Ratner. [1] [2] He died in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on May 31, 1995, and was buried in the Park Synagogue Cemetery in Beachwood, Ohio. [1]
His nephew is Michael Ratner and his niece is Ellen Ratner, a news analyst for Fox News. [5]
Max Ratner | |
---|---|
Born | Meyer Ratowczer December 26, 1907 |
Died | May 31, 1995 (aged 87) |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Real estate developer |
Known for | Co-founder of Forest City Enterprises |
Spouse | Betty Wohlvert |
Children | Charles Ratner Mark A. Ratner James Ratner Ronald Ratner |
Parent(s) | Pesha Koppelman Ratowczer Moishe Ratowczer |
Family |
Bruce Ratner (nephew) Michael Ratner (nephew) Ellen Ratner (niece) |
Max Ratner (December 26, 1907 - May 31, 1995) was an American real estate developer and philanthropist who co-founded Forest City Enterprises.
Ratner was born Meyer Ratowczer to a Jewish family on December 26, 1907, in Białystok, Poland, the son of Pesha (née Koppelman) and Moishe Ratowczer. [1] [2] In 1921, he immigrated to Cleveland following the lead of his brother Charles and his family adopted the Ratner surname. [1] He graduated from Glenville High School on the east side of Cleveland. [1] In 1929, he graduated with a J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and then worked as an attorney. [1] [2] In the same year, he founded Forest City Materials with his brothers Charles and Leonard, [1] his brother-in-law, Nate Shafran, and his sister, Fannye Ratner Shafran. [3] He served as the company's president from 1929 until 1975 and then as chairman of the board from 1975 until his death in 1995. [1]
In 1986, Forest City and his nephew, Bruce Ratner, formed a joint venture, the Forest City Ratner Companies, which is known for developing Brooklyn. [2] Its projects there included One Pierrepont Plaza in Brooklyn Heights and Metrotech Center, a large office, commercial and academic complex in downtown Brooklyn. [2]
Ratner was the founder and chairman of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce. [2] [4] He was a supporter of Israel, the Jewish Museum in New York, and was active in the State of Israel Bonds organization. [2] Ratner was a trustee of the Cleveland Museum of Art, a board member of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, and served as president of the Park Synagogue in Cleveland. [2]
In 1939, Ratner married Betty Wohlvert; they had four sons: Charles "Chuck" Ratner, Mark Ratner, James Ratner, and Ronald Ratner. [1] [2] He died in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on May 31, 1995, and was buried in the Park Synagogue Cemetery in Beachwood, Ohio. [1]
His nephew is Michael Ratner and his niece is Ellen Ratner, a news analyst for Fox News. [5]