Joseph Michael Battaglino

Captain Joseph Michael Battaglino, Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy (Ret), 92, passed peacefully on July 11, 2024, in Bonita California. Joseph was born and raised in the small town of Catskill, New York. He was a beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and husband of the late Joan Frances Battaglino. Joseph was a benevolent patriarch to his family and a loyal friend to all who had the fortune to meet him.

Joe was raised by his loving parents and extended family. He attended the local Catholic school, Saint Patrick’s where he excelled at both academics and sports. A natural leader, he was class president and was selected to attend Boys' state. Joe was the first in his family to attend and graduate from high school. When, at 16, Joe’s father died of a cerebral hemorrhage, as the oldest of four children, he stepped up to the role of patriarch-in-training. Joe always had a job and helped to provide financially for his immediate and, eventually, his extended family. Joe also had what seemed at the time very unrealistic ambitions: wanting to get a college degree and become an attorney. He succeeded with an enormous amount of work and very little sleep. Joe relied on friends for rides between his night job at the local prison and his classes at Siena college and later Albany Law School. Between college and law school he met the love of his life, Joan Frances Ward, at the 9W Diner in Catskill.

Joe had never been outside of his home state of New York until he received a commission in the Navy in 1957. He traveled the world aboard ship and later brought his family with him to duty stations in Rome, Italy and Taipei, Taiwan. Joe and Joan were loving supportive parents and made the nomadic life of a Navy family an adventure for their three children Joe Jr, Lynn and Anne. Joe retired from the Navy as a Captain after 30 years of service, after which he continued working as a lawyer/legal advisor for the San Diego city police department, then the San Diego County Sheriff’s office. He continued to work into his 80s as a traffic court mediator with the local community colleges, sharing with his family the laughably imaginative excuses students had for getting citations.

Joe is survived by his three children Joseph Michael Battaglino jr.(Tori Battaglino), Lynn Battaglino Martin and Anne Marie Battaglino. He has three loving granddaughters, Angela Ross Battaglino, Alex Page Fancher (Donald Packard Fancher) and Dana Elizabeth Martin, and a great granddaughter Luna Rey Fancher. Joe also leaves behind his younger brother Paul Battaglino and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Joe was also very close to his two sons-in-law Gregory Martin and Steven Dedrick. Joe also considered his friends and coworkers as family. Joe was kind, generous and loved to laugh, he was loved and respected by all. He was a fierce competitor and worked hard at everything in his life, bemoaning having to give up tennis in his 80s. In his memoir, he has left us a life story that models selflessness, honor, a strong work ethic and a love of life. He truly was, as described by a JAG Officer after he retired, a living legend. We miss him.

Joe is interred with Joan at the Miramar National Cemetery. His family is hosting a celebration of his life in January 2025 at his home in Bonita. Please join us for tacos and talks. Come casual and bring stories and memories to share. Please contact Lynn Martin at [email protected] for details.