HENRY HOWARD RAATTAMA JR

Birth date: Feb 1, 1943 Death date: Apr 13, 2023

Henry “Hank” Raattama, Jr., of Miami, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at age 80. Hank was a lifelong Floridian and proud American who lived his values: hard work, civic duty, dedication to family, and giving Read Obituary

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Jorge R Gutierrez

121w ago

Hank was a great mentor and friend. I met him in 1985 during my summer internship at Mershon Sawyer. I am forever indebted to him for his kindness and example. All honor to his name.

Mark B. Maclean

144w ago

Hank ratima was our cousin and a great friend to us. My older brother Sydney Wade and Hank were always going to the beach or Christmas time or whatever when they were little always think and the kids were there. Additionally my older brother Sydney Wade and Hank were there at the University of Florida at the same time and that we would always see Aunt Marion at many times. I would see Hank his wife and their little kids at the time because I was probably only 10 at the most but I would always see Hank Aunt Marion and daddy talking and conversing. I know that Hank was a great friend and a great cousin throughout all these years.

Steve Kress

153w ago

Dear HANK You are the best of the best both in your personal life and as attorney to so many important clients. Both of us being Miami attys, I will always appreciate you. Sincerely, STEVE KRESS

Mike Waters

153w ago

Hank's family bought a dairy farm near Lacrosse, FL when he was in 3rd grade, and that's when our friendship began. From 3rd grade through high school we were great friends and football teammates. From the outset, you just knew he was the kind of friend you wanted; open, funny, thoughtful, smart and determined. Hank could always rise to the occasion; you could depend on that.

After college though we lived far apart (like Miami to Dallas-Ft. Worth far apart) the inter-net was invented so we could stay in touch. Politics, sports and snarky jokes were our typical back forth fare, but spiced up with tales of what our grandkids were doing. While we saw eye to eye on politics our sports allegiance's diverged, but that just made the emails more lively.

When i heard he'd passed away, i was stunned. It's not often you get to have a friend for 70 years, and i will miss him enormously. God speed my friend.

Arnold Jaffee

154w ago

I had the pleasure of working with Hank over the years. He had so much to offer as an excellent attorney, and more as an exceptional person.
--Arnie Jaffee, Mount Sinai Medical Center

Philip M. Sprinkle Ii

154w ago

I've been practicing law with Hank since May 26, 1987. He was the smartest person I have ever met, and the kindest lawyer on the planet. Until the dissolution of Mershon Sawyer on December 1, 1995 (one of the saddest day of my professional life), Hank and I would regularly compete for the first cup of coffee from the first brewed cup of coffee for the Firm as we both naively believed that the first cup held more caffeine than any other cup of the day (and there were thousands). He was fully committed to the success, development, and care of charities in Miami with especial attention to the University of Miami that he loved, as Dean Clarkson accurately acknowledged. I was even blessed to have Hank and Linda attend my wedding in Virginia. For all young lawyers, there is no lawyer in Florida or elsewhere to better emulate than Hank Raattama who devoted every minute of his rich life to, in order of proper priority, his family, his country, the success of every client for which he was directly or indirectly responsible, and the advancement of our profession. God bless Hank Raattama and his family. And, on behalf of Hank Raattama, God bless Miami, the U, and our profession. He was, indeed, the epitome of the lawyers' lawyer and a role model for any American. --Philip Sprinkle

Richard C.Grant

154w ago

I met Hank 50 years ago in 1972 when we both joined Mershon Sawyer as new associates, albeit older than most as we had both been active duty army officers for a while including service in VN. We were the same age, were UF undergrads 1971-65 and had to have been in ROTC together but amazingly did not then know each other. Our age UF and military background was a shared common bond.

Hank had a wonderful way of being. He was as diligent hard working a lawyer as I’ve ever known-in by 7:30am and on most weekends. He took his work very seriously. But in contrast he was about as unpretentious, fun ordinary, easy going guy as one could find. It made him a real person. He had a wonderful, at times slightly self deprecating, sense of humor

I always enjoyed working with him. When I moved to Naples I needed some heavy duty partnership tax law help on some matters and Hank delivered. He also taught me a lot. He was always willing to help his partners and others. He did not worry about getting billing credit for it. It’s who he was

Over the years since leaving Mershon we have kept regular contract although I have not seen him in several years. I will miss him very much. He was one of the good guys.

Dick Grant Mershon 1972-1994
Gunster/ Naples

Elliott Abramson

154w ago

Hank and I used to argue politics almost constantly.Finally he defined a Democrat as someone who had gone to Harvard.
When my wife and I first consulted him he was quick to say."I didn't go to Harvard." Whereupon Shelley said, "That's why we're here."

John Clarkson

154w ago

Hank was without peer as a husband, father, grandfather, tax attorney, Canes fan and friend. His sudden passing shocked and saddened many but our family, in particular. We were neighbors on SW 113 St. for years but remained close despite growing families and geographic separation.
His wise counsel helped to sustain many non-profits, but particularly the Wolfson Foundation and McKnight Brain Research Institute, both of which provide significant support to programs of the Miller School of Medicine. Hank succeeded his mentor, Robert Cole, in providing prudent outside counsel to the University of Miami and our School of Medicine.
As to his modesty, he never mentioned having earned 2 Bronze Stars in the 50 years I have known him.

He will be missed beyond measure.

John G Clarkson, MD
Dean and Professor Emeritus
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine