Based on that birthdate, I found something potentially interesting.
On
www.italiangen.org, there is a Mary A. MacMaster who married Russel E. Ratcliff on 28 Jun. 1936 in Manhattan. I checked the Social Security Death Index for women named Mary who were born on 12 Jan. 1911. One of them is Mary Ratcliff, whose Social Security number was issued in New York before 1951. She died Jan. 1973 and last residence was Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California. The California Death Index has Mary A. Ratcliff with this birthdate who died 14 Jan. 1973 in Los Angeles. Her and her mother's maiden name are not listed, but she was born in New York.
I may be barking up the wrong tree, but it seems like a possibility. I see a Russel E. Ratcliff showing up in the Los Angeles Co. voter registrations from 1936 to 1952. The only time I see another Ratcliff with him at the same address is 1942, when there's a Mrs. Plezza M. Ratcliff, who is a homemaker. Could be a wife, but could instead be his mother or grandmother or other female relative?
The SSDI has a Russell Ratcliff born 25 Dec. 1897, died Oct. 1973, last resided in Inglewood, and SSN issued in New York before 1951. California death index has Russell E. Ratcliff born 25 Dec. 1896, died 23 Oct. 1973 in Los Angeles, and born Ohio. This Russell appears to be on a 1931 passenger list - he's listed as married, there's an Elaine Ratcliff born 1900 in San Francisco and a possible daughter with him, and they were living in Jackson Heights, New York (which is in Queens, one of NY City's 5 boroughs).
