It is with great great sadness that I write this news, that our good friend CDNRatman, my very very good buddy Andy Ratkai, fondly known by many in the Drifter community as Ratman, has passed away. His neighbor found my number and called us this evening with the awful news that they had fount him today. They think he passed his sleep. He will be sadly missed by his friends and his Drifter family, and the community will have a void left in his absence. Personally, I will never forget his friendship, he will leave a hole in many lives.
Prayers to all his family and friends.
Horrible news! He was a great bro and all around fun guy. So sad on this day to hear this. :(
I will miss his banter and all the posting he did over the years. He always had great stories. He had those great pics of his bike sitting in his house over the winter. Seems he was doing mods all winter long. He never ran out of ideas for ways to trick his bike out.
We will also never forget those snow angel pics which can never be unseen. :o ;D No doubt Ratman left an impression on many of us. He was an original article. There was no pretense about him. He was as real a person as it gets. He will be sorely missed.
Wow, so sorry to hear this. He was one of a kind for sure. May he rest in peace.
Thank you for posting this information here and on the facebook page. When I was regularly reading and posting here, I really enjoyed Ratman's posts. I will say prayers for him and his family.
:'( I just can't believe it... :'(
Though I never had the chance to meet him in person, I've had the honor to share with him some rider knowledge and experiences over this Forum.
He was such a kind person and I will miss him. We all miss him a lot!
May God reserve him a good path in joy, for the eternity.
Wow, I a man speechless just had visited him last week, minus the normal aches and pains seem to be fine, never know when your times up. Rip Andy my friend
This news is quite a shock. I don't know what to say. RIP Andy
Andy was a friend to just about everyone and one of the most popular members of our Drifter community.
He was planning to visit me this summer. He just got his new bike finished. I wonder if he had a chance to ride it?
Rest in peace Andy.
R.I.P Ratman. You will be missed.
Terribly sad news. May his soul find peace and rest.
Quote from: RockinRollin on May 24, 2018, 08:44:59 AM
Andy was a friend to just about everyone and one of the most popular members of our Drifter community.
He was planning to visit me this summer. He just got his new bike finished. I wonder if he had a chance to ride it?
Rest in peace Andy.
Sadly, I think he just got the last bolt on Raven, and was planning to get it outside Wed or Thurs. He has had Red out for a couple weeks, since about May 12th, I think maybe he took a ride or two, but Raven has not had the champagne bottle broken on her yet. I know for a fact, though, he had a damn fine time building her, and I think he had a much better winter because of it. I am thankful for that.
RIP Andy! What a sudden loss. Sympathy and prayers to his loved ones. I'll miss his comments and helpful advice, I know I send thankful thoughts his way each time I refer to the 800 manual he shared. So glad to was able to take that long ride last year.
Sympathy to friends and family...RIP Ratman. I think of you each time I see the tank badges you helped me find for Blue.
Another friend waiting for us down the road.
I am gutted to hear this sad news, I only got an email from him last week with many pictures of Raven, we loved the guy over here with his wicked banter that got us in trouble on the uk forum but who cares it was funny, Andy had a heart of gold and will be very sadly missed.
This is very sad indeed and a shock. Always had great conversations with Andy on and off the forum. He was always looking out for everyone else. Makes me really sorry I missed his northern Drift-In...at least we have the video.
Did he have a health condition we were unaware of or that he didn't make common knowledge? It didn't occur to me that he was punching a bucket list. Just so sudden and unexpected.
Rest in peace my fellow 800 rider....
Greenbarn: If you hear anything else or there is anything we can do...an obit; a place to contribute; anything...please post.
I can't believe it man....just shows none of us know how much time we have. Ride while you can.
I will now go toast the Ratman...
Quote from: kw-retrorider on May 25, 2018, 14:29:06 PM
Greenbarn: If you hear anything else or there is anything we can do...an obit; a place to contribute; anything...please post.
I can't believe it man....just shows none of us know how much time we have. Ride while you can.
I will now go toast the Ratman...
Here's the obituary. https://www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com/notices/Andrew-Ratkai
The Obit says to donate to Ride For Dad, which is an upcoming ride for prostate cancer that Andy regularly supported.
http://www.ridefordad.ca/nipissing/
Calling hours Wed, 5/30. Anybody planning to go??
I just spoke with Andy's sister, Liz. The calling hours will be at the funeral home, and it doesn't sound like there will be a "funeral procession". She said the coroner ruled the death as a heart attack, complicated by his diabetes, and he died peacefully in his sleep.
From Blue and Princess
I'm going to miss the old guy
Good pics Tracy, I only met Andy one time ..at the Pikeville rally but have kept in touch since then, I regretfully missed the Norhtern rally and was looking forward to the Soo rally 19. Andy loved Drifters (800s for some reason) lol. and he knew allot about them. He had a sense of humor that you sometimes didnt know how to take unless you knew him. I know his health was bad , he had many issues, but never let them stop him from doing what needed to be done. He recently built on to his house while building his beloved Raven doing all the work himself. Andy was a wonderful person, a proud veteran, a friend, and a valuable member of this forum. We will all miss him and never forget him. Ride free my brother....
Can you feel the wind in Heaven
Can you hear me call your name
Can you see the tears that fall
This world wont ever be the same
Can you feel the wind in Heaven
When we gather in our group
Can you hear the sound of silence
When we look where you once stood.
Can you feel the wind in Heaven
Can you hear the ladies cry
Can you feel our broken hearts
When we have to say goodbye
Can you feel the wind in Heaven
While the men hold back the tears
Leather clad and watery eyes
And know we'd rather have you here
I hope there is a Biker Heaven
And we will meet again someday
I hope to feel the wind in Heaven
And shake your hand again that day
~author unknown
OMG...absolutely awful news. RIP Ratman.
Thinking of Andy today. Tough day for his family, the final goodbye. R.I.P.
Quote from: DriftinGirl on May 30, 2018, 18:05:35 PM
Thinking of Andy today. Tough day for his family, the final goodbye. R.I.P.
Same here. I'm going to miss him.
Quote from: DriftinGirl on May 30, 2018, 18:05:35 PM
Thinking of Andy today. Tough day for his family, the final goodbye. R.I.P.
Indeed.
My condolences and kind thoughts to his family and friends.
He will be missed.
Who will abuse me on this forum now?
R.I.P., Andy.
You will be missed, for sure.
Condolences to his Family and friends .best wishes from Australia
Quote from: Zoar on May 31, 2018, 10:30:16 AM
Indeed.
My condolences and kind thoughts to his family and friends.
He will be missed.
Who will abuse me on this forum now?
Well, I we can try, LOL...
Not sure if you knew, but Andy was planning on making a trip to see you this summer, to go out for a pizza. He had recruited me to go, if I could go too, and we'd meet there. He was working on getting some other folks to go to. I miss the guy already.
Somehow, the world just isn't the same anymore. Andy and I had kept in contact since my accident, and he will be missed greatly. Prayers for his friends and family.
Quote from: greenbarn on June 01, 2018, 22:02:31 PM
Well, I we can try, LOL...
Not sure if you knew, but Andy was planning on making a trip to see you this summer, to go out for a pizza. He had recruited me to go, if I could go too, and we'd meet there. He was working on getting some other folks to go to. I miss the guy already.
Oh yea, he was threatening to come see me and reminded me of that threat often. He definitely enjoyed playing at being in your face. yes he will be missed.
He was one of those larger than life individuals.
R.I.P brother Andy. I've been out of the loop and got onto the forum today. Another member Gene told me of his passing.
I remember Andy was always there to help if you had a question or problem.
He was one of the heartbeats of this forum that was a invaluable source of information and wise cracks.
Earlier I just saw his finished Raven build and posted on the quality of his finished Drifter.
Brother Drifter in peace now.
God Bless him and his family.
Andy, AKA Ratman, was a really great friend online to all of us. He will be missed. And I wonder if somebody can step up and fill his rather large shoes. I'm pretty sure he'd want that.
FYI I asked about him on the 800 site because a post there seemed to imply something happened and I suspected he had passed (somebody mentioned a memorial), and then I searched and lo and behold on the general discussion here we are. Very sad. Perhaps someone can post a brief obituary notice for him on the 800 site, for those of us that don't normally browse the General discussion site?
Hello All.......Just logged on ......Expecting some jovial humour ...Not to be.......Ratman your will be missed!!!...KEN.
Thank you Andy for being such a great source of information and have an absolutely terrific sense of humor....you will be greatly missed, my friend...RIP
This is a much much belated post. I met RatMan in Pikeville and it was him that gave me the moniker Cuz'n Vinnie at the last dinner we had. I respected him for his humor and his toughness and tenderness. As a matter of fact, my wife still invokes his name when I ride. Nuff said... See ya in the here after, Canuck,