Thomas Graham Ratlieff

Born on April 27, 1970 in Miami to William Ratlieff, Sr. and Marlene Graham Ratlieff, Thomas was an avid car lover and gifted athlete. He attended Miami Norland Senior High and enjoyed movies, cars, and the company of his close friends.

It was as a first-year student in Broward Community College that he fell in love with the “fastest ball game in the world,” and was determined to play Jai-alai and make it his own. Beginning as an eager ball boy, he was keen to learn the game from the ground up, and sought out mentors, worked persistently, and became a strong back court player - playing in frontons up and down the east coast throughout the 1990’s. Tom “Chaz” Ratlieff was happiest when he was hurling his cesta – be that in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or closer to home in his starting grounds of Ocala and Dania, Florida.

Thomas is survived by his father William Ratlieff, Sr., his siblings Lisa Nadal and William Ratlieff, Jr., and his nephews Austin and Tyler. He joins those who have gone before him - his mother Marlene Graham Ratlieff, his uncle William Graham, and grandparents Dwight and Helen Graham and Thomas and Nina Ratlieff. He will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens after a private ceremony.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Ratlieff family.