Holiday Park VFD life member remembered as loving volunteer

Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department is mourning the loss of life member and staple at its Plum social hall.

Annabell Ratner was someone firefighters could count on while recovering from a big emergency call.

“Ann was always the person who was here when we came back from a fire and was either cooking or had the food waiting for us,” said Holiday Park medical officer Alex Marcelewski.

Ratner died Feb. 25 after a long battle with cancer. She was 70.

The department shared the loss of Ratner via Facebook post late last month.

“She was the one who made sure the firemen got taken care of after a fire. She led the efforts,” Marcelewski said. “You’d have her in the kitchen with a bunch of other ladies, but she’s be the one coordinating. … Everybody knows her for her endless smile.”

Ratner conquered many roles in the department during her near 17-year run.

She was secretary, chairperson of the fish fry, chairperson of the activities committee and volunteered every Thursday at bingo.

Firefighters described her as a “social butterfly” that other bingo players loved to be around.

“She’s one of the nicest, compassionate person you could ever meet,” said Second Assistant Chief Josh Scalamogna. “She always would do anything she can to help you and others. Loving, caring, she always had a mint for everybody. Everyone would go to her for a Lifesaver.”

Lori Shaulis, a niece and Holiday Park bingo chairperson, said everyone remains shaken.

“It’s just not the same,” Shaulis said. “She knew about the people, and the people knew about her.”

Life of helping

A Braddock native, Ratner served as a candy striper at her hometown hospital in the 1960s.

She graduated from General Braddock High School in 1972 and married Elliot Ratner five years later in Las Vegas.

The pair owned Ratner’s Hardware in Squirrel Hill for many years.

She was a former president of the Murray Avenue Merchants Association in Squirrel Hill.

Annabell also owned Ann Ratner’s Place, a party store in Eastland Mall, and worked at Puff’s in North Versailles.

Ratner moved to Plum in 2007 following the death of her husband and quickly joined Holiday Park.

Shaulis said her aunt was diagnosed with cancer that year and underwent a laryngectomy. Doctors removed her larynx due to damage of what is commonly referred to as the voice box.

Ratner was often the first one in the kitchen during Lent making haluski. Her recipe is a take on a fellow life member’s, the late Anna Schwan’s, using fresh ingredients and egg noodles.

Scalamogna took over as fish fry chairman eight years ago. He said Ratner was a big help outside the kitchen offering leadership and organizational tips.

“She helped me along the way in my beginning years of running the fish fry,” Scalamonga said.

Along with helping out at the fire department, Ratner would volunteer at the Plum Community Center, where she enjoyed many bingo games.

“You couldn’t stop her from volunteering,” Shaulis said.

Ratner received the U.S. Jefferson Award in 2012 for improving her communities through volunteering.

The awards have been given out since 1973 through the organization Multiplying Good in recognition of extraordinary public service.

Ratner’s family had a private ceremony after Ratner’s passing. They asked those who would like to honor her to donate to the fire department in lieu of flowers.