Ratzlaff, Harold (1932-2022)
Harold Cornelius Ratzlaff: professor and churchman; born 14 June 1932 to Richard Leonhard Ratzlaff (19 March 1908, Deutsch-Wymysle, Poland - 14 April 1967, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) and Martha (Kliewer) Ratzlaff (10 November 1905, Deutsch-Wymysle, Poland - 16 December 1996, Abbotsford, BC) in Acme, Alberta, Canada. His parents immigrated to Canada from Deutsch-Wymysle (Nowe Wymyśle), Poland in 1929 and married in April 1931. Harold was the oldest of five children: three boys and two girls. On 8 August 1959 he married Viola Selma Doerksen (27 June 1928, Herbert, Saskatchewan - 23 February 2017, Abbotsford, British Columbia) in Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church, Abbotsford, British Columbia, daughter of Jacob H. Doerksen (1896-1967) and Elisabeth (Nickel) Ratzlaff (1894-1956). They had three sons: Chuck, Greg, and Doug. Harold died 6 September 2022 in Abbotsford, BC.
Harold grew up on the family farm in Acme, helping out his father, playing baseball and other sports, and sometimes getting into mischief with his brother Eric. As a youth, Harold attended Linden Mennonite Brethren (MB) Church with his family, where he was baptized on 7 August 1949. After delivering the valedictory address at Acme High School (nine graduates), he attended Normal School for one year to become a teacher, launching him on a career as a lifelong educator and learner, mostly in Vancouver, with a professional career that spanned 45 years, but never really ended.
Harold’s teaching career began in 1951 at the age of 19 in Rockyford, Alberta and then continued in Calgary for several years. Seeking further education, Harold traveled to Winnipeg to attend Mennonite Brethren Bible College (MBBC), where he earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Theology, in 1958. Again, he was the valedictorian of his graduating class. While at MBBC, he wrote a letter introducing himself to Viola Doerksen, on the advice of his sister Betty, who had been Vi’s student in BC. The letter remained in his files to his dying day. In 1958, Harold moved to British Columbia and discovered that his letter had worked the intended magic – he married Vi in 1959.
The young couple moved to Vancouver where Harold acquired a Bachelor of Education (1961, University of British Columbia) and a Masters of Education (1964, UBC). During this time he taught at Oppenheimer Elementary (1959-1962) and Windermere Secondary (1962-1968) in the Vancouver School District. At Windermere, he was the teacher sponsor for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.
In 1968, Harold, along with his young family, moved to Eugene, Oregon, where he began work on a PhD at the University of Oregon. On his return to Vancouver in 1970, Harold fulfilled a commitment to the Vancouver School Board and taught math and chemistry for four years at Lord Byng Secondary.
In 1974, Harold became a professor at the University of British Columbia, where he spent 20 years teaching statistics and research design in the Faculty of Education, while sponsoring Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. He finished his career at UBC as Dean of Graduate Programs in the Faculty of Education. Harold left a strong legacy as a patient, kind and gifted teacher amongst his peers and students. His statistics courses were a requirement for many to complete their advanced degrees, and with trepidation going in, students were often astounded that they were able to understand complex statistical concepts under his guidance.
Ratzlaff was known for his leadership and speaking ability beyond his professional life. During his time at Fraserview MB Church (1959-1972), he served on the church board and as moderator, and when the church was without a pastor for an extended period, served as lay minister, leading services and delivering sermons. During his 22 years at Killarney Park MB (1972-1994), he served on the Board of Deacons, as board member and moderator, and as Sunday school superintendent. At his last church, Bakerview MB in Abbotsford, BC (1995-2018), he also served on the board as member and moderator. He also served on the boards of Columbia Bible College, Mennonite Brethren Bible College, and Regent College.
When he retired from UBC, he continued to work in education, traveling annually for eight years to Lithuania Christian College to teach statistics and other courses to professionals from various fields. He was joined on these trips by Viola, and they would often use these trips as a springboard to broader travel.
Outside of his work and church life, Harold loved family and sports – especially the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions and Toronto Blue Jays. He introduced his boys to sports early, was a great support to them, and tracked their sports pursuits and careers closely.
More than his titles or professional contributions, Harold is often remembered for the qualities of his enormous heart, by his family as an anchor and source of relentless love, and by many others for his irrepressible gentleness, kindness, and encouragement. He was immeasurably proud of his three sons whom he loved beyond compare, along with their partners and grandchildren. He died surrounded by love after a life well-lived.
| Author(s) | Chuck Ratzlaff |
|---|---|
| Date Published | May 2023 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Ratzlaff, Chuck. "Ratzlaff, Harold (1932-2022)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2023. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ratzlaff,_Harold_(1932-2022)&oldid=175542.
APA style
Ratzlaff, Chuck. (May 2023). Ratzlaff, Harold (1932-2022). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Ratzlaff,_Harold_(1932-2022)&oldid=175542.
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