Joseph William Ratigan, retired professor of English literature at Villanova University, died July 8, 2007 at his home in Haverford, PA, at the age of 93.
Mr. Ratigan, a native of New Jersey, was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and did his post graduate studies at Columbia University and at the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied at University College, Galway, Ireland.
In World War II, he served in the European Theatre of Operations where he received a direct commission following the invasion of Normandy. He was awarded many decorations, including the Bronze Star. When the war ended, Lt. Ratigan and eight U.S. chaplains were received at the Vatican in a special audience by Pope Pius VI. After returning home, he began his teaching career at the University of Notre Dame as an instructor in English.
In 1948, he joined the faculty at Villanova College. While there, Mr. Ratigan became very popular with the students. His classes were overly populated semester after semester. He founded the seminar system and later specialized in Fitzgerald and Hemingway. Professor Ratigan introduced the first course in Irish literature which today is the Irish Studies Institute. In 1968 he received the prestigious Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and Barron's national magazine cited him as one of Villanova's outstanding teachers.
When Archbishop Carroll High School for Girls opened, Mr. Ratigan was the first elected president of the school board.
The Professor was the co-author of a college text, Rendezvous, with the late John J. McShea, the first Augustinian educated in Oxford since the Reformation.
One year, Mr. Ratigan was a visiting lecturer in American literature at University College, Dublin, Ireland, and spoke over Radio Eireaan.
In 1984, the Church of the Four Chaplains, at Temple University, conferred on him the Legend of Honor membership "in recognition of his community service without regard to race or faith." In 1987, his New Jersey high school named him to its Alumni Hall of Fame.
His interests included reading, walking, college football and basketball, and international travel. He visited dozens of countries. Professor Ratigan is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marion Belyung Ratigan, four sons: Brian, Brendan, Ronald and Kevin, three daughters: Maureen Whitaker, Kathleen Chidester, and Karen Kennedy, and sixteen grandchildren, and a brother, John B. Ratigan of Bordentown, New Jersey.
Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2007 from 7 PM - 9 PM at McConaghy Funeral Home, 328 W. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore, PA. The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday morning, July 12, at 10:30 AM at Our Mother of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church, Pennswood Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Villanova University, care of English Department, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085.