Walt Ratterman 1952 - 2010

Walt Ratterman, of SunEPI.org had been missing in Port au Prince, Haiti since the earthquake on January 12th. Sadly late Sunday night, February 7th,  Walt’s family was notified that their worst fears were confirmed, Walt was one of the thousands that perished in the devastating earthquakes that paralyzed Haiti.

Walt was a great advocate and champion of the solar industry as well as humanitarianism. Walt was selflessly devoted to helping the less fortunate and worked with many organizations for many wonderful causes including Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) and Partners In Health (PIH) in Haiti to improve the delivery of energy to health care facilities, work in Rwanda, Jordan, and Palestine with Engineers Without Borders – International, and Solar Energy International to provide photovoltaics training for engineers in Jordan and the West Bank, Palestine.


” In between installs, Walt would be somewhere on the other side of the planet, either delivering pallets of blankets to Afghanistan, or setting up a microhydro unit in the mountains of the Philippines, or teaching small villages in India about community solar.   We would receive emails from Walt, from some remote locale, using his solar powered satellite connected laptop that he carried everywhere.    True to form, Walt died doing what he loved to do, helping the people of Haiti.”

-Richard Deutschmann

groSolar VP Policy & Market Development

The loss of Walt Ratterman will be felt throughout the world but his legacy and work will live on through his family, friends, and the lives of those he touched. Our deepest condolences go out to Walt’s friends and family, the world is better off for having had him in it.