The death of Benton Harbor businessman Anthony "Tony" LaRatta is reverberating throughout the community today, and a fundraiser has been launched to help his wife and daughter in the wake of the tragedy.
The 41-year old LaRatta owned and operated Advanced Auto Repair on M-139 and, with his wife Gina, was a faithful advocate for Save-A-Stray, an animal foster care agency. His love for the animals literally drove him back into the smoke and flames of his own home last evening when fire erupted in his garage and spread to the family home. LaRatta and three of the family's dogs perished in the blaze in St. Joseph Charter Township. His wife and their daughter Sabrina were out of town at the time of the fire.
Friends have offered up a tremendous outpouring of sadness and condolences to the family and now they have established a Go Fund Me campaign online that had raised nearly $1,000 in the first two hours it was on line. You can see the campaign established by Cynthia Kennedy by clicking the link below.
Meanwhile, the fire marshals are trying to determine the exact cause of the fire that claimed Tony's life far too early.
Here's the link: https://www.gofundme.com/dyvezwg4
Donations are also being accepted by friends at the Two By Two Animal Hospital on M-139 north of Berrien Springs.
