Victor Rafael Carattini (Najarro), age 92, formerly of Battle Creek, and now of Southport, NC, unable to recover from multiple strokes, peacefully passed, under the care of his daughter, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept 23, 2020. Victor was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, February 15th, 1928, to the parents of Rafael Carattini Gonzalez and Ana Virginia Orozco (Najarro).
The eldest of five siblings, and although never enlisted, Victor grew up in the shadows of his father's military career, who earned the rank of Master-Sargent in the US Army Signal Corps Communications and most notably as an Aide to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. His father's military travels took Victor from his birthplace of Puerto Rico, to Panama, to New Jersey, to Virginia, and back again to Panama in the first 20 years of his life! Victor completed his undergraduate Chemistry degree from Tulane University (New Orleans, LA), including participating as an active member of one of the Polio Vaccine Laboratory Teams where he met Dr. Jonas Salk, - and also found time to meet the nurse of his dreams at the morgue (during classes) and married the love of his life: Marilyn Louise Carattini, being married with special permission from the Church on December 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), and enjoying 63 years together. Most of their child-rearing years were spent in Battle Creek, ensuring a private High School education to his children and assisting his niece from Panama to live and obtain a College Degree with the family in Battle Creek (he often held down two jobs to support this vision shared with Marilyn, that included his primary work as a Research Scientist at the General Foods Post plant in Battle Creek).
Victor was proud of his brief athletic ability in multiple high school sports. Before leaving Panama, this led to a short-lived, semi-pro stint in basketball, that later included showing-off with his sons the infamous underhand set-shot! He delighted in his large family that survives him: all his children, 11 grandkids and 11 more great-grands! Victor was the 1st Graduating Class of the new name change to Western Michigan University (WMU), receiving his Masters' Degree in Bio-medical Sciences.
Victor was preceded in death by all of his primary family, including his beloved wife Marilyn. He is survived by his children: David (Patriarch) Michael (Anne Marie of Rockford, MI), Darryl Rafael (Kathy Mary of Carlisle, PA), Daniel Mark (Grand Rapids, MI), DeAnna Marie (Paul Nicolaisen of Southport, NC), & Dwight Matthew (Susan Marie of Battle Creek, MI), and special niece Marta (Matriarch) Hill (Keith of Lake Hubbard, MI).
A man of limited means, Victor believed in giving back, sacrifice, duty, and a commitment to the process of ones' mores. He demonstrated this through his dedication of community service and his home life of mentoring all of his sons in Scouting to the attainment of Eagle Rank, taking on the responsibilities of president positions of both St. Philip's Dad's Club and Catholic Athletic Association (CAA) organizations, Assistant Scoutmaster (BSA), and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus (KOC). Victor was bestowed the highest achievement in volunteerism in Scouting; receiving the Silver Beaver and St. Philip Catholic High School inducted Victor into their St. Philip Hall of Fame, - of which both of these awards are vetted without the knowledge of the recipient. His children all earned self-educated College Degrees. Victor also took in his brother Jorge of special needs, encouraging him to continuously strive to achieve a high school degree.
In his retirement years, Victor & Marilyn spent many years in Livermore, CA, being near his brothers, Petoskey, MI, assisting in the care of Marilyn's mother, and the Carolinas, enjoying the company of his daughter's family. |