Michael Battaglia

Mike Battaglia was never content to live his life as a spectator. He always got involved, participated, helped, and encouraged others. He was a remarkable man, who led a remarkable life, a man who made a difference to so many lives in his time with us. He was a devoted husband, loving father and faithful friend, and a man always willing to learn. He taught us all so much more in return.

Mike’s story began on a cold fall day in 1952, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were tumultuous times in this country, which was battling the Korean War and the Cold War, as the civil rights movement intensified here at home. On Thursday, November 13, 1952, Tony and Myrtle (Hunt) Battaglia celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Michael.

Mike was the fifth of the couple’s seven children, joining five brothers and a sister, though his parents divorced when he was just a boy. His mom began working a second-shift job to support the large family, leaving Mike and his siblings in the care of babysitters and neighbors during the evening. The kids became very close, and watched out for each other as a result.

Mike attended St. Alfonse Catholic School as a boy, but when he was in the second grade, their home burned down, a tragic blow to the struggling family. Mike was sent to live in the St. John’s Orphanage for about a year, until his mother could get them back on their feet. His time at the orphanage had a profound impact on him, and inspired him to help children the rest of his life.

His mom eventually remarried, and the family moved to Holland, where Mike attended St. Francis deSales Catholic School, before heading to West Ottawa High School. Mike was a great athlete as a boy, and excelled at football and especially swimming for the Panthers, and with his outgoing personality, Mike was a very popular student. He was definitely part of the “in” crowd (never a spectator, remember). He was also a very bright young man, though not a big fan of schoolwork. Even still, he always managed to achieve good grades.

After graduating from West Ottawa, Mike went to Grand Valley State University, getting his bachelor’s degree in education. He then began substitute teaching for a year, before landing a fulltime teaching job at Douglas Elementary, south of Holland. While he was teaching, he also continued learning, earning his master’s degree in education from Western Michigan University.

Never a spectator, Mike broke his leg one day while playing basketball with his students. Equipped with a cast, Mike soon headed out for a night on the town in Saugatuck with some friends, where he met a beautiful young woman named Cindy Johnson. They hit it off, and Cindy even signed his cast — complete with her phone number!

The couple dated for five years, before getting married on July 24, 1982 at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church. They settled in Allegan, and it wasn’t long before the newlyweds became parents, as well, with their daughter Laura born in 1983. After moving to Holland in 1984, they celebrated the birth of their second child, son Ben, in 1988.

Mike was a terrific dad, mildly strict but always supportive and of course, involved. He coached any sport they were involved in, and the family did much together, too. Camping, kayaking, skiing … any excuse to be outside and to be together. Mike did insist the kids do well in school, and that they make it home by their curfew — else they see dad waiting for them at the door when they arrived home.

His concern for children’s well-being didn’t stop with his own, of course. Mike was an excellent teacher, and also started the HOST program (Helping One Student at a Time). He also began helping children across the globe, especially South America. He traveled extensively to the region, helping teach, build houses, and deliver medical supplies. And when he returned, he taught his students all that he had learned, and also the importance of doing for others, such as the Join Hands for Reading Fundraiser in 2001, benefiting impoverished Guatemalan children. “It is good for our kids to see how kids in Third World countries live,” Mike told the Holland Sentinel for an article, one of many featuring his efforts. “Our kids have warm beds, good books to read. It brings your awareness to a whole different level.”

Mike’s marriage to Cindy sadly ended in 2002, and he redoubled his travels and efforts in South America afterward. He helped many humanitarian groups, including Airline Ambassadors, Safe Passage, Teens for Humanity, and even helped deliver medicine and care with Patch Adams, the famous clown doctor portrayed in a 1998 movie. “Going with Dr. Adams felt like a dream come true and caught me off guard completely,” Mike recalled. “I felt like a celebrity, we were followed by press everywhere. In Bogota, we were followed by 17 armed guards constantly.” He humbly accepted an award by the school board for his efforts, and said they should be awarded for letting him take time off school!

That’s the way Mike was, though, always selfless, never a spectator, completely immersing himself in whatever he was doing. He always traveled off the beaten path, always helping along the way. He taught himself Spanish to better communicate, to better serve the underprivileged, and was constantly reading books on many different subjects. A dictionary and a thesaurus were always ready at his bedside table.

Mike was constantly teaching, learning, and doing. He had many passions, and loved sports of all kinds — but never as a spectator. He enjoyed cycling and basketball, and became an exceptional racquetball player, too, even winning a large tournament in Grand Haven in 1998. He was very competitive, and always strove to be the best he could be.

Mike taught at Douglas Elementary for 30 years, and also started his own landscape business in 2003. Sadly, Mike died suddenly on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, while working on a landscape job, at the age of 54.

Mike was a truly amazing man, who led an amazing life, a life that affected so many others along the way. He was a loving father, teacher, and friend, and a man who made a difference to so many people. He taught us so much in his time with us, yet his lessons live on today in all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Mike is survived by a daughter Laura (Trent) Brashier of Grand Rapids, a son Ben Battaglia of Holland, a step son Jeff (Heather) Howard of Santa Maria, CA, a sister, Mary (George) VanderVeer of Valrico, Florida, brothers, James Battaglia of Hamilton, Jerry (Gail) Battaglia of Belding, Gary (Mary) Battaglia of Saugatuck, Patrick (Brenda) Battaglia of Holland and John (Jackie) Weller of Grandville. Step father, John Weller of Jenison and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6-8 P.M at the Saugatuck Chapel of Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 520 Lake St. Saugatuck. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday 11:00AM, at St. Peters Catholic Church of Douglas. Should friends desire, memorials may be given to Teens for Humanity. Please share a memory or photo for the family or sign his guest book.