Robert J. (Bob) Bateman passed away Oct. 28, 2021 in New York City, Lenox Hill Hospital after a brief illness.
Bob died at the young age of 76 but lived an incredibly full life. He was born on August 11, 1945, in Lawrence, MA, the 4th child of Joseph F. and Gertrude (Macdonald) Bateman, and sibling to Harriet, Joe Jr., Jack, and younger brother Dick.
He attended St. Johns Prep School in Danvers MA, followed by Lawrence High School, in Lawrence MA, where he became one of the fastest track athletes in the United States. In the summer of 1963, following his high school graduation, he ran in the Olympic Trials for the 1964 Games in Tokyo, placing 5th in the 100m. He then attended Villanova University on a track scholarship.
Bob had a lifelong passion for history and heritage that he enthusiastically shared with his extended family. As he recounted many times, both were formed as a youngster in the house he grew up in, where he listened intently to the battle tales of his WWII vet uncles who fought in the European and Pacific theaters. He later discovered a long-forgotten chest in the attic belonging to his great-grand uncle, -Fenian hero, Captain Timothy Deasy, that would send him on a decades long path in support of the struggles in Northern Ireland and Irish reunification.
He worked for over 15 years as Associate Director, Savings Bond Division for the Treasury Dept. in Washington, DC, followed by a longer period in the private investment field. Bob also served nine years as a motorcycle, undercover narcotics, SCUBA, and SWAT officer with the Hampton, New Hampshire Police Department. Bob also did radio play-by-play announcing for the Boston Celtics on station WNBP in the early 70’s, and local sports in Newbury, MA.
He married Sharman Parker of Newburyport, MA in 1965 and had 3 children together, before divorcing in 1980. Bob met his current wife Camille (Donohue) in 2001, and shortly thereafter resettled to NYC and married in 2004. They have lived happily in Ossining, NY for many years, often travelling to Maine and County Cork, Ireland where Bob gave lectures on Irish history.
Bob is survived by 3 children: Robert (BJ) Bateman, Jr. (Natalie Wang) of Aliso Viejo, CA, Brandon Bateman, of Portland, Maine, Briana Bennet (Jeremy) of Maple Valley, WA., and Stepdaughter Heather Durst (Kristoffer), of Bedford Corners, NY. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren he adored: Delilah, Fiona, and Simone Bennet, Avery and Sophie Bateman, and Griffin Durst.
He is a retired Colonel, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Anti-terrorism/Force Protection and the past Deputy Commander of the 88th Brigade, Headquarters, New York City. Past-Chairman of the Board, the Military Association of New York, Member, Board of Advisors, National Defense Committee, Washington, D.C., Past Commander-in-Chief, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Past National and State Historian for the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Past Prior, Priory of St. King Charles the Martyr, Washington, D.C., and Past Deputy Grand Prior, Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Knights Templar). Chief of Mission OSMTH U.N. Delegation, NYC, Past Camp and Department Commander, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Member of the Irish Brigade Association, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, the New York State Police Chiefs’ Benevolent Association, the New Jersey and New York Detectives/Crime Clinic, the Association of the United States Army, the Military Officers Association, the Harvard Club of New York City and the Army and Navy Club, Washington, D.C.
Bob was awarded the “Irish American Peace Prize” in 2019 by the Irish National Caucus in Washington DC, for all the work he did towards the reunification of Ireland. Bob was a dual citizen of the United States and the Irish Republic.
