Nick another year passed, you are so missed every moment and second of the day!!

Nick, as I sit here still can't believe it's already 2 years Heaven gained an Angel. I know you are looking down on our son and I, please keep keep guiding us. We miss you you!!!! Love ya

So sorry to hear about Nicholas he was a great guy and friend unfortunately we lost contact when he moved but my condolences to all of his family. God speed and love my guy.....

Happy Birthday!   Can't help but think you & Jimmy and celebrating together this year.   

To Carol and Nick senior - please know how deeply sorry I am for your loss. We all go  back a very long way and I can’t express how I felt when I heard. My thoughts and prayers go out to all your family.   I actually just heard about it, so please excuse my late condolences. John

I am sorry to have to reconnect this way, but I want to send my condolences to Carol and the rest of the family. Nicky was always so much fun to be with. It’s been years but the memories are always there 🙏🏻💖

Our family is just heartbroken over the passing of Nicky. Many years of friendship filled with precious memories. So many happy times we all shared together! Nicky you were a very special part of our family. You were taken far to young. You will be missed by so many. Our deepest condolences to your parents, brothers, partner and sons. Rest In Peace my friend. Forever in our hearts.......

Nick Rattenni 
my cousin my brother. Talk about a man that could get a smile out of a stone. 
There were a few times I was really upset with Nick and he would tickle me or kiss my cheek and the anger would melt away. 
We could use a little of that now. My guess is Nick could talk each and every one of us out of our grief in about 2 minutes. Wish he was here to do it, we all share that wish. 
Truth is although Nick could talk me in or out of just about anything I could barely budge him an inch, but he always made me think I did, but in reality, no. 
He was a fitness, boxing and mixed martial arts trainer. He molded and changed in a very positive way thousands of lives in his career. 
He taught my children how to box a skill set he got from his father. He was patient, understanding and precise in his teaching. Watching him work with them revealed to me a facet of Nick I was not fully aware of. His skill as a teacher and motivator was really a gift especially with kids which he loved to teach and talked about it often. 
In a very short period he made a tremendous impact on my son Dereks life who after a few lessons inspired him to box several times a week. Mike did the same with body building for him.
We all reach out or pursue certain things, sometimes good sometimes not for solace or a brief escape from life’s stresses. We all do it, Nick did, I do one look at me and you can see what that is. Sometimes like Mike with exercise it works in our favor and sometimes like in my case it does not.
The road Nick traveled and the road we all travel in life is our personal choice. How we navigate in general does not make us bad or good we use different coping methods simply as way to compensate for our life experience and temper the journey.


Not everyone we love may like or endorse our path and because they love us all they can do is put rest stops, curves, bridges, bumps or even huge neon signs along our life’s road but lets be clear that the road we choose is ours, we own it and there is not a person on earth that could have altered or changed the road taken by Nick or any of us. 
On Nicks road he chose to love and teach. We talked about teaching. 
One of Nicks great loves was animals. He had a strong beautiful affinity for animals. A love he shared with his children.
 We would joke about the Rattenni zoo.
 It says a great deal about Nick that he gave his caring , affection and protection to the innocent and defenseless. I will never forget how tortured Nick was with the loss of his bulldog Tank. 
Science says that people who love animals have a specific version of the gene that produces the hormone oxytocin, which is the hormone that expresses love in people.  This hormone makes people friendlier and have more empathy. Nick in a nutshell. 
Animals loved him as well, perhaps it was the way he tasted. Nick was bitten by more animals than any person I have ever known. Birds, snakes, dogs, cats, lizards, rats, sugar gliders, turtles to mention a few, Even my dog who has not bitten anyone else bit Nick. Our parrot took a chunk out of him too. It was because Nick was devoid of fear, he would just dive in. 
He would flick his finger and jump around a bit suck on his wounds and then laugh about it. I think sometimes he did it to see if it hurt.


But clearly his greatest love, apparent to all who knew Nick was his best friends his cherished children. Nicky, Michael, Cole and AJ. 
There were honestly times watching the Rattenni boys together that I could not tell who the adult was in the group. Nick would get right in there and be one of the kids. Knee deep in whatever they were doing.
In the time I spent with Nick in the last few years he spent much of his time talking with great pride about the camping, motor biking, fishing and animal adventures he shared with his boys. 
Nicks life, Nicks heart and Nicks soul was made complete by his sons. 
Nicks boys gave him joy and happiness to last several lifetimes, joy that cannot be described by words, Joy most men realize lost all too late, but certainly not at all lost to Nick.
Nick strived to make everyone smile and mastered this skill, he absolutely would not be comfortable in any measure with his life being associated with sadness and grief.  Although to be honest I am pretty sure Nick would be bawling his eyes out right now. 
My dear friends and family surely no great love in life comes without the peril of great loss. I can't help but think of how very lucky we are to be so very sad. 
It would be a beautiful legacy for Nick that if when you think of him that you “smile when your sad, love what you have and remember what you had. Forgive but never forget, learn from your mistakes but never regret.”
I look forward to again be comforted by his warm loving smile, a kiss on the cheek and his jovial embrace. Thinking of Nick Rattenni will always make me smile, always make me happy,  
May the lord continue to bless us, keep us in his loving embrace,
And give us peace.


Sending love and condolences to you guys. Nikki was someone I looked up to through the middle school and high school years. He was always good and generous to my brother and I. He will be missed. Rest In Peace. Love to all of you. 

I have been blessed to have known Nick for about 8 months. However, because  of his great spirit and his love for people and his unwavering generosity. It seems as I have known him for a life time.
He was my friend, someone that I look forward in seeing each day. He will be missed, and my heart has been broken. I know that Nick is loved and missed by everyone that have had the pleasure of knowing him. 
RIP my friend, my family and my staffs all miss you.

I am truly saddened to hear of Nicky's passing, my heart goes out to his entire family. It has been decades, but Nicky has always held the the most special place in my heart.  He was the most loving, sensitive, selfless man, with such a big heart.  I feel truly blessed that  my greatest memories in life were spent with Nicky.  He had that effect on people.  May he rest in peace 

Nicky was like a second son to me as he was my sons best friend until Jimmy was taken from us  17 years ago.   Nicky was so distraught, that I was trying to find the words to comfort him.   Through the years, he has been my connection to him.  Always checking up on me and the girls.  He was a loving and giving man and  he will forever be in my prayers and in my heart.  
To his family and his sons, there are no words that will take away the shock and the pain but know he will live on  and never be forgotten.   

It’s been many years since I saw u guys, but had to share a memory of Nicholas. When he was a little guy  we would ask him how big is Nicky and he would hold his both arms up like a boxer.  I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. Hope it helps to know old friends care.  Praying for you.  May he Rest In Peace.  🙏🙏🙏

Nicky.. damn had some fun times with you.. learned about what 14lbs of boost meant from you and felt it.. your system was always a hair bit louder than mine. I’ll admit it.. gone too soon.. Rest In Peace. And condolences… 

I first met Nickey through Mike at retro fitness about 7 years ago, what I loved about him was he always had something to show me or teach me about gym equipment and different exercises. He was fun to be around and always had something interesting to say. May his soul be at peace and my deepest condolences to the entire Rattenni family. May  God heal all your hearts and deliver you peace. 

Nick -  As a kid, you were an inspiration to me and so many who grew up with you. Especially “Michael’s little friends”, as you called us, who looked up to you so much. Your authenticity, sense of humor, and kindness are what stood out most to me, and made you a great leader. 

Although it has been years since then, you continue to leave a positive imprint on my life. I am forever grateful to you. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends. God bless your soul. 

Nick you were always so giving, so welcoming, so trusting. A truly good soul. We had so many great times way back when. See you on the other side pal. Rest in eternal peace. 

Sending my condolences to Michael and the family.  When you return to school I will be there to help you through this difficult time, all of us will be there for you.  

Ms. Dancy

OBITUARY

Nicholas Rattenni

June 16, 1975 – September 25, 2021

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

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