John Joseph Battistoni passed away peacefully in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 24, 2018, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born on October 26, 1925, in Bakersfield, California, John was the youngest son of Basilio and Julia (Betti) Battistoni, immigrants from Tuscany, Italy. He graduated in 1943 from Bakersfield High School, where he was on the champion debate team. After graduating, he enrolled in naval officer training school, which took him to Notre Dame, in Indiana, and Westminster College, in Missouri. He was commissioned in 1945, and served in the Pacific at the end of World War II, earning medals for Philippine Liberation and World War II Victory. The first in his family to attend college through the GI Bill of Rights, John graduated from the University of Southern California with a BS in Business in 1947. On June 28, 1947, John married Barbara June Robinson, a former debate opponent from East Bakersfield High. Barbara was the love of John’s life, and they were married 69 loving years, before Barbara passed away in 2016. Their son Richard was born in 1954.
John began his career in Bakersfield, in real estate. He later teamed with his brother Lawrence to develop organic enzyme products that could be used in road construction, agriculture, and bioremediation. The enzyme manufacturing business took John and his family to Mexico City, where they lived for two years, and then in 1967 to Las Vegas, where John would work and live the rest of his life. John built a successful business, and he and Barbara were able to travel to many countries for business and pleasure. John especially enjoyed several family trips to Tuscany. He was a kind, generous man, who loved to host family gatherings and parties with Barbara. He looked forward to Christmas each year with his extended family, who came to Las Vegas from all over the country.
John leaves behind his son, Richard, and his wife Betsy Ritz, of Lincoln, RI, and granddaughters Alyssa Battistoni and Katharine Battistoni, of Brooklyn, NY, and Marielle Battistoni Fortune and her husband James Fortune, of Philadelphia, PA. In Bakersfield, he is survived by sisters-in-law Mary and Thelma Battistoni, cousin Donna McNutt, and many nephews and nieces. In Las Vegas, John was surrounded by many friends who loved him like family.
A celebration of John’s life will take place Saturday, June 16, at 2:00 p.m., at Palm Mortuary, 1600 South Jones Blvd., in Las Vegas, Nevada. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made in John’s memory to Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4131 Swenson Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (nah.org), or to the Sierra Club, Southern Nevada Group, 3828 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89107.
