Born: November 6, 1914
Died: May 28, 1997
Married: Margaret Ryan (died), Dorothy Tierney
Children: Mary Redlin, Margaret Ratigan, John Ratigan, William Ratigan, Thomas Ratigan, James Ratigan, Fr. Patrick Ratigan, Michael Ratigan, Stephen Ratigan, Paul Ratigan
John Francis Ratigan, known as Frank, was a pharmacist who served as mayor of Saranac Lake from 1957 to 1960. He was also a World War II veteran. According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 21, 2018, Mayor Ratigan was known for wearing creative hats, handing nips of whiskey to snowplow drivers and once slipping on boxing gloves in a meeting with the board to represent his fighting spirit. He is buried in St. Bernard's Cemetery under the name of John Frank Ratigan.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, May 29, 1997
John “Frank” Ratigan
SARANAC LAKE - John “Frank” Ratigan, 82, died Wednesday May 28, 1997, at the Adirondack Medical Center.
Born Nov. 6, 1914 in Irishtown, he was the son of William and Mary (Ryan) Ratigan
He was married to Margaret Ryan who predeceased him in 1958. He later married Dorothy Tierney of Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
A resident of Saranac Lake for more than 40 years, he graduated from the Albany Pharmaceutical College in 1 936. Mr. Ratigan was a pharmacist in Dannemora for three years before purchasing a drug store in Glens Falls, which he operated until 1947. He was employed at O'Neill's Pharmacy in Lake Placid from 1947 to 1950, and as a pharmacist at Ray Brook Tuberculosis Hospital from 1950 to 1969. He was also employed part-time at the Post Office Pharmacy until his retirement in 1980.
Mr. Ratigan served in the United States Navy during World War II as a pharmacist mate from 1942 to 1945.
He served as a councilman on the North Elba Town Board in 1952, and was the mayor of Saranac Lake from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a village trustee in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Mr. Ratigan was a life member and former Grand Knight of the fourth degree, and a member of the American Legion Post 4457.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; two daughters, Mary Redlin of Rochester, and Margaret Ratigan of New York City; eight sons, John Ratigan of Minerva, William Ratigan of Juneau, Alaska, Thomas Ratigan of Saranac Lake, James Ratigan of Bundyville, Fr. Patrick Ratigan of the U.S. Army, Tenn., Michael Ratigan of Newark, N.J., Stephen Ratigan of Tampa, Fla., and Paul Ratigan of Casco, Maine; seven grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Mary Ratigan; two brothers, Bert Ratigan and William Ratigan; and a sister Mary Wasserbach.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. A bible vigil service will take place at 8 p.m. Friday. A memorial Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Bernard's Church with Fr. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Interment will take place at St. Bernard's Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers friends wishing to remember Mr. Ratigan may make memorial contributions to St. Bernard's School in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home.
