Category: Obituary: R

The Rev. Earle R. Ramsdell, American Baptist minister, pastoral counselor, and beloved colleague in the Southwest District, died at home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 23, 2016.

Earle Ramsdell was born May 27, 1921 in Somerville MA, to Lloyd and Anna (McDonald) Ramsdell. He graduated from Boston University with a BS in Education in 1944, then obtained a Master of Divinity at Andover Newton Theological School in 1946 and a second masters degree in counseling in 1972 from the University of North Texas.

He served two American Baptist pastorates between 1946 and 1953. He then served as the Associate Director of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches from 1953 to 1959, where, as the Director of Radio and Television, he produced and participated in religious programming. In 1959 he became the Executive Director of the Greater Flint (Michigan) Council of Churches, where he served as co-chair of the successful effort to pass an open housing ordinance, with Flint becoming the first city in the nation to enact such an ordinance by public vote. He was also instrumental in the creation of that city’s Human Relations Commission.

In 1973 he joined the staff of the Pastoral Counseling Center in Dallas TX, retiring in 1995 after twenty years as Director of Education and Training.

In retirement, he served as the volunteer Director of Pastoral Care at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, having moved to Louisiana in 1995 with his wife Penny as she joined the faculty of the LSU School of Social Work.

He is survived by his wife Penny Smith Ramsdell; two daughters, two grandsons, and two great-grandsons.

The Reverend Paul Ratzlaff, beloved parish minister and activist for justice, died on 28 February 2016, aged 70.

Paul Wilmer Ratzlaff was born to Leslie and Nina Ratzlaff in Kingston, Jamaica, on 24 July 1945. He earned a B.A. from Warner Pacific College in 1966, an M.A. from Colgate University in 1968, and a Certificate from the Stevens Gesner Project to Train Men and Women for the Unitarian Universalist Ministry in 1973.

Paul was ordained by the Unitarian Society of New Brunswick, NJ, in 1974, and served there for the next six years. In 1980 he was called to the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship, where he served for over twenty years until 2002. After a year of interim ministry with the South Nassau UU Congregation of Freeport, NY, he was subsequently called to the UU Fellowship of Huntington, NY, where he was settled for eight years until his retirement in 2012. During these ministries, Paul was a steady presence in service to the UUA, UUMA, and many local community groups.

Of her father, Hannah Ratzlaff writes: “He dedicated his life to social justice and caring for others. He . . . truly taught me the value of hard work and commitment. He had an amazing balance of kindness, wit, and empathy that allowed him to see many sides of an issue, often acting as the voice of reason for me.”

Paul is survived by his spouse Barbara, brother Dale, children Hannah and Ian, and other beloved family and friends.