Edward William Rataj, born on October 14, 1947, passed away on January 6, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Betty, children Ed (Erin), Suzie, Annie, Tom (Erin) and Charlie (Jennifer), brother Don (Diane), sister Mary Ann (Dan) Boyce and 9 grandchildren.
Ed was a respected partner at Bryan Cave, specializing in ERISA. After retiring from the practice of law, he was deeply committed to uplifting his community in meaningful ways.
Ed organized chess programs at several homeless shelters, using the game as a tool to inspire strategic thinking and self-confidence. As a youth basketball and chess coach, he shaped the lives of countless children, instilling in them the values of teamwork, perseverance, and resilience. His mentoring efforts extended beyond games, empowering his mentees to believe in themselves and chart paths out of poverty.
As a connoisseur of medieval coins and a Civil War enthusiast, he found joy in exploring history and sharing his knowledge with others. Yet, above all, his greatest devotion was to his family, who will forever cherish his love, wisdom, and unwavering support.
Ed was a devout Jesuit-influenced Catholic and a Saint Louisan through and through, exemplified not only in his love of St. Louis sports teams but his choice of education. He attended SLUH, SLU for both undergraduate and law school and donated his body to SLU medical school.
Ed’s life was truly an example of the power of compassionate service to others. His legacy will endure through the countless lives he touched.
Visitation: Friday, January 17, 2025, 4-8pm, Kutis Funeral Home – Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd., Saint Louis, MO 63123
Memorial Mass: Saturday, January 18, 2025 9:30am Immacolata Catholic Church 8900 Clayton Rd, Richmond Heights, MO 63117
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Edward W. Rataj to: Loyola Academy of St. Louis 3851 Washington Ave St. Louis, MO 63108.
Ed was the soul of the chess program at the emergency Peter & Paul Soulard Shelter for years and years. His efforts to uplift those living in crisis will not be forgotten. The shelter relocated this summer to our Community Campus to accommodate a large expansion. We moved the many custom built chess tables (thank you Eagle Scouts) to the new site. The plan is to re-start the chess program, and it will be with a grateful nod to Ed and his legacy when we do.
Ed was truly one-of-a-kind and I will miss him dearly. Never a day where he wasn’t smiling and doing his best to lift everyone up. A great mentor, friend, colleague. Fly high, Bossman!!! The world was a better place with you in it.
Omg what a great friend leader professional and jr bill. Ed dedicated so much time for the benefit of others using his skills talent and finances. Always leading our classmates to gatherings for lunch and fun. Ed you will be dearly missed I am sorry I cannot be there to tell you good by.
I met Ed after he had retired. What a brilliant mind! What a wide range of interests and expertise! What a great sense of humor! He had strong “conservative” values in the best sense and truly walked the walk in helping to mentor disadvantaged folks. A truly unique individual, he was a treasure. I will really miss him at our Saturday morning coffee group.
The apple does not fall far from the tree. Annie shines with your CORE, as i image all of his legacy shines with. Thank you for multiplying and filling the earth with Gods revelation, redemption and sanctification. Sending my prayers of sympathy.
Edward was many things to many people—a father, coach, mentor, and friend—but to me, he was my older brother. From the very beginning, he shaped my life in ways I will never forget.
Edward Rieschere Rataj carried our grandfather’s name, Edward Rieschere, with pride and upheld the family name, Rataj (which, for those wondering, is pronounced Ra-Tie).
He inherited his kind and giving heart from our parents, Tony, and Kay. Edward was always willing to help others and give back in ways that truly had influence.
Ed had a remarkable ability to bring out the best in people.
On the basketball court, he did not just teach the game, he instilled perseverance, teamwork, and the intricacies of defensive full presses and pick-and-rolls.
At the chessboard, Ed was more than a player; he was a strategist and thinker. He shared his love for the game and taught others to think more deeply, bringing chess into the lives of many who still enjoy it today. My son Tony enjoyed challenging Ed to a Chess game and talk their secret language of Pawn to Knight 4
When it came to the stock market, Ed had an infectious enthusiasm. Whether discussing the next big bank stock or dissecting financial trends, he spoke with passion and expertise that drew you in and left you better informed, sometimes even wealthier!
And, of course, there were his jokes. Edward’s humor was legendary, even if his jokes were so bad they were good. “Why are Fire Engines Red?” perfectly fits Edward’s sense of humor!
If you mistakenly brought up the Civil War, you had better be ready to settle in. Ed could tell you the year, the battlefield, the generals killed, and even the type of bullets used.
Edward was endlessly giving. Whether guiding a young athlete, explaining the finer points of a chess strategy, or offering a surprisingly accurate stock tip, Ed made the world better simply by being in it.
Edward, you left an indelible mark on this world and on all of us. You taught us how to live with humor, how to think with depth, and how to love with our whole hearts.
Thank you, Edward, for everything you gave us. Rest easy, knowing you are deeply loved and will never be forgotten.
Ed was so generous with his time to Marian Middle School! His devotion and enthusiasm for the basketball teams he coached and the chess players he taught will always be remembered! He’s in heaven now playing chess and calling out basketball drills at the same time! 🙏
Thank you for starting the wonderful Chess Club at Marian Middle School many years ago. Your enthusiasm, generous spirit, and passion for volunteering at MMS and Loyola will be fondly remembered with gratitude.
Ed was a wonderful man who shared his talents with so many. Thank you Ed for helping the Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars learn the game of chess and the skills of life.
A GREAT youth basketball coach; respected and highly ethical attorney; and friend and advisor to many. Am fortunate to have known him.
Betty,
My condolences to you and your family. I was there when it all began in Spanish class at SLU. It seems as through you’ve had a fulfilling life and may it continue with wonderful memories and good health. May Ed rest in peace.
Ed and I started high school together in 1961 and became friends in early 1963 on a sophomore trip to DC and NYC. We’ve shared a plethora of experiences together, double-dating, classes together at SLU and visits with each other and our core group of friends over the years, to name a few. The news of Ed’s illness came as a huge blow to me and I hoped he would recover so we could visit with him again. Betty, as the “friend of longest standing” from our group, I can say without reservation that Ed will be missed. Condolences to you and all the Rataj family and those he has touched over the years.
Ed was such a superb lawyer and a truly wonderful person. We practiced law together for 20+ years beginning when the firm was much smaller and a truly special place. His unique talents, wit, compassion and dedication made him one in a million. He would often begin a chance encounter by quickly reporting on the latest remarkable success of one of the many teams he coached over the years. A proud father, husband, lawyer, coach and much more. May God bless Ed and his entire family.
Dear Betty and family – Our deepest sympathy on the passing of Ed. Such a wonderful person. We had a very fun time working with you and him on the DeSmet auction – the only year that couples chaired it! He was always kind and so generous with his time to everyone, including me when I was at Bryan Cave. He is the only numismatist I have known! May he rest in peace. You are in our prayers.
Don and all of the Rataj family please accept our deepest sympathy. I only knew your brother briefly , while hanging out with you and the other guys.
But, after reading the other condolences he will greatly be missed.
Ed sat behind me in most classes in freshmen year at SLUH. He gave me his friendship and kept a strong friendship with me and a wide circle of classmates for over sixty years. He set us up on dates for four years. In freshmen year at SLU Ed introduced me to Betty, and I knew she was the strong woman who would be his wife. While he may have felt he failed as a matchmaker when I told him I was entering the Jesuits in 1966, he and his family supported me more than they know in my vocation as a Jesuit priest. I relish the trips Ed organized to the Florida Keys and Williamsburg. It was unfortunate that COVID prevented the 50th wedding anniversary celebration because Ed and Betty’s marriage has been a gift to so many of us. Ed would always comment that Betty was the Saint for putting up with his jokes and endless plans. While he was accurate, I also admire Ed’s service to young people in coaching chess and basketball and mentoring them. Part of calling for all of is to create a bit of Heaven on earth, and Ed certainly did so. Ed generously gave of his time and effort in retirement to raise people up and make the world a pathway to the Kingdom of God. I had the privilege of spending four hours with Ed two days before he passed away. We reminisced about friends and experiences in high school. We recalled how entertaining Jesuit scholastics teaching us in freshmen year were. We laughed. We lapsed into moments of silence together. We expressed gratitude for friendship shared and how much it meant. I told Ed I would be relying on his help from Heaven.
Ed reflected Christ to me in his reaching out and including everyone, in making everyone feel at home and included, a Good Samaritan and Good Shepherd in his unique ways.
Bob Poirier, S.J.
I have great admiration for Mr. Rataj. He reintroduced me to the game of Chess when I was in middle school. Rataj saw my potential as a young man. He became my mentor and I learned a lot just spending time with him. Mr. Rataj was a man of character and conviction and did what he could to ensure success of young men, even if that meant taking them to the store to buy their first suit, taking me on a college tour, or even to a Cardinals game. I am forever greatful for Ed’s influence and he is a piece to the puzzle that makes me a man today. Thank you Mr. Rataj