Ratsey, Colin E.

Description

Colin Ernest Ratsey was born on April 17, 1926, in Pelham Manor, New York, to Martha Alice Scott and Ernest Atkey Ratsey. He was a student at Brunswick High School and Admiral Farragut Academy. He had one sister and in Rye his family lived at 181 Highland Road.

Colin enlisted March 1, 1944 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as quartermaster 3rd Class with the Navy, stationed for more than two years in the Pacific Theater aboard the cruiser. USS Pasadena. His service number was 712 57 69 (SEE MUSTER ROLLS).

The USS Pasadena (CL-65) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser that served in the U.S. Navy’s Fast Carrier Task Force in the Pacific Theater during World War II, earning five battle stars for her service.

She joined the Fast Carrier Task Force (TF 38/TF 58) at Ulithi in November 1944 and participated in key campaigns for the remainder of the war. Pasadena supported carrier strikes on Luzon and Formosa.
She was part of the force that conducted raids into the South China Sea in January 1945.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima it provided naval gunfire support for the landings on the island. At Okinawa and Kyushu she was flagship for Cruiser Division 17 (CruDiv 17), she participated in continuous strikes and night bombardments of Japanese positions on Okinawa and the Japanese home islands from April to May 1945.

In May 1945, the Pasadena was pictured alongside the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) after the carrier was hit by kamikaze attacks, assisting the burning ship. She was present in Tokyo Bay for the official Japanese surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945 and remained in Tokyo Bay, supporting occupation forces until January 1946.

Colin received his honorable discharge on May 31,1946 and returned home.

He married Carol Ann Campbell on July 10, 1946. The ceremony took place at the Larchmont Avenue Church, the Rev Floyd E McGuire and the Rev. Herbert H. Brown officiated and a family reception followed the ceremony at the Wykagl Country Club in New Rochelle. After the wedding the couple resided in Rye and they would have four children together.

Colin was the first American-born member of his family to serve as president of the venerable Ratsey & Lapthorn Sailmakers. The firm, whose sails adorned Lord Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar as well as numerous Americas Cup contenders, was founded in England in 1690. Colin was the sixth generation of his family to work at the company loft.

In addition running to the traditional family business, he was an acclaimed competitor. Among his achievements were winning the prestigious Bermuda Race, completing numerous Trans-Atlantic races and serving as a crew member when the 12-meter Columbia successfully defended the Americas Cup in 1958. He also served as Commodore of the American Yacht Club and was a member of the New York Yacht Club and Storm Trisail Club.

Colin Ernest Ratsey, one of the most prominent yachtsmen of his generation, died April 27, 2002 in Vero Beach, Florida, after a brief illness. He was 76.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his children, Scott Ratsey of Vero Beach, Florida, Cynthia Ratsey Young of Rye, New York, Colin David Ratsey and Jane Ratsey Williams of Greenport, New York and 8 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Joan Ratsey Darling.