Irving Ratner

On May 24, 2023, thirteen days after his 93rd birthday, Irving Ratner, beloved father, father-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather, died peacefully, gently and comfortably, surrounded by family. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara.

Irv was born, together with his twin, Elliot, in Boston, Massachusetts, and was the last child of eight. After moving to Los Angeles as a child, he and his twin brother were well-known gymnasts at Muscle Beach in their teen years and the twins even performed in a circus. Irv subsequently met his wife Barbara and they had one daughter, Pamela. Pam remembers her father as kind, gentle and loving and adored by her friends, as a singer and jokester. The family often camped. Irv especially loved his time with the Girl Scouts, while his wife led a troop of girls on various adventures.

Irv was passionate about gardening, as well as home design and expansion. Irv was also extremely artistic and loved making beautiful stained glass windows, which he and Barbara designed. After a stint with construction, Irv became a hairdresser “to the stars” and worked for the movie studios; thereafter, he purchased his own salon in a well-known hotel in Studio City. After his wife’s death, and his retirement, he moved first to San Diego, where he resided for 12 years, and then with his daughter, Pam, her husband Garry Sobeck, and granddaughter Madison, Irv moved to Bainbridge Island, in the Pacific Northwest, where, for the last 11 years, he enjoyed many wonderful times with friends and family.

Irv will be remembered for his singing to anyone who landed in his path, all the many “stories” he shared of Hollywood in the 60’s and 70’s, his true gentlemanly ways and the love he spread to all those he met. Irv will be deeply missed.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.