Armando E. Batastini Jr. ’54

Armando E. Batastini Jr. ’54, of Providence; Apr. 11. He worked as a student support specialist for the Providence School Department for 36 years. He also worked as a supervisor and director for the Kennedy Recreation Center at the Providence Recreation Department for 25 years. He was named to the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Children and Youth for his work in education. Additionally, he served as State Representative from the Elmhurst/Mount Pleasant and North Providence areas from 1976 until 1992. He was awarded the Hubert Humphrey Public Service Award for his work on the Senior Citizen Bill of Rights legislation. Throughout his life he was involved in all aspects of his community, particularly through sports, having founded the Elmhurst Little League and coached the St. Pius Catholic youth sports basketball team for 61 years. He was inducted into both the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sons of Italy Hall of Fame, and in 2019 the Armand Batastini Recreation Center in Providence was named in his honor. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters; a son; a daughter-in-law; and five grandchildren.