Joseph Anthony Ratermann

Our dearly loved and admired brother, Joseph Anthony (Joe) Ratermann, of Sacramento, California passed away on July 26, 2025 after a debilitating stroke suffered in early May.

Joe was born on July 16, 1953 to Julius (Bud) and Helen Ratermann in Pasadena, CA. He was one of ten children, and number six in line. His oldest brother, Peter, was especially delighted to finally have a younger brother after a run of four sisters. When Joe was three, the family moved to Carmichael, CA, where he would eventually attend Our Lady of the Assumption Grade School, followed by Jesuit High School.

Joe was a fierce competitor. It didn't matter if it was a backyard game with his family or a varsity match: he loved the thrill of competition. He excelled in both baseball and football, and it was when he was playing football at Jesuit that he caught the attention of college recruiters from across the country. Ultimately he chose to attend Columbia University in New York, but California was in his bones and he transferred to UC Berkeley and red-shirted his sophomore year. He graduated from UCB with a degree in Social Science and Economics in 1982. Joe went on to earn an MBA from National University and an M.A. in TESOL from Alliant University.

After college, Joe worked in construction, getting his contractors' license, but it was in education that he found his true calling. Joe worked as an ESL instructor at California State University, Sacramento, Ohlone College in Fremont, with the U.S. Department of State as an English Teaching Fellow in Mongolia and as an ESL instructor at Dalian University in Dalian, China. His favorite subject to teach was composition and he spent hours offering ideas to students for each essay. At that point, he was competitive with himself, making sure he was the best possible teacher and that his students could write a polished academic essay!

Throughout his life, Joe faced the challenges of alcoholism and addiction with a determined and tenacious spirit. He religiously attended AA meetings, and became a pillar of his community. While living in China, Joe helped bring the support of AA to others, organizing grassroots meetings and creating sobriety coins for local members.

Joe was humble, unpretentious, sensitive, intelligent, quick-witted. During his last months, he exhibited all these qualities to the fullest. He made each of us - his siblings, nieces, and nephews - better people, teaching us to love with ease and generosity, and to embrace others as they are. Love for him filled our souls. In those last months, Joe exuded goodness. He left us in peace, knowing he was tremendously loved and respected.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Helen, his brother, Peter (Priscilla), and his sisters, Susie (Bob) and Frankie. He is survived by one brother, Mark (Kathy); five sisters, Mary Ann (Don), Gina (Bill), Peggy (Jim), Theresa (Fidel) and Tricia (Dave); and numerous nieces and nephews.

We, Joe's family, are deeply grateful to the staff at Mercy General Hospital for their dedicated and loving care, always with his best interests at heart. This was a difficult time for us all, but we knew Joe was in the most capable of hands.

A semi-private celebration of Joe's life will be held on Saturday, October 25th in Sacramento. Please email Gina at Business4Gina@gmail.com for additional information.