The Art World Has Lost a True Treasure!

Love of art and teaching guided Patti Battaglia, 56

Veteran Howard educator described as 'favorite aunt' of school community

By Joe Vassalotti
jvassalotti@patuxent.com

Posted 3/25/10

In a crowd of teachers, on any given day, there was never a question as to what subject belonged to Patti Battaglia.

Regularly outfitted in bright colors and lively accessories, she looked like an art teacher ought to, according to her friends and colleagues.

Known for her unique fashion sense and nurturing teaching style, Patricia A. "Patti" Battaglia, a longtime teacher in Howard County public schools, died March 13, 2010, from cancer. She was 56.

Born Oct. 17, 1953, Battaglia worked in the Howard County school system for 30 years, teaching at Stevens Forest and Clemens Crossing elementary schools, in Columbia, and at Elkridge Landing Middle School, in Elkridge.

A resident of Catonsville, Battaglia most recently taught at Elkridge Landing, helping open the school in 1995 and retiring in 2008, Principal Gina Stokes said.

Battaglia's colleagues credit her with igniting a love of art and creativity in her students and serving as a visual reminder that it's OK to be different.

"She really, genuinely loved kids," Stokes said. "Her room was always a haven for them."

Added teacher Pattie Holy-Ilenda: "If Elkridge is like a family, Patti was the favorite aunt."

Battaglia's personal flair gave her classroom a distinct personality, said Lexie Bianco, who served as a student teacher under Battaglia before working alongside her at Elkridge Landing.

"As soon as you walked into her classroom, it was visual overload," Bianco said.

Battaglia was known for coordinating her outfit with the school's color-coded schedule, which assigns a different color for each day of the week. She greeted students in the school's lobby each morning, serving as a reminder of what class schedule was in effect. (All but "yellow day," that is -- since Battaglia didn't care for the color, she wore purple instead.)

Outside the school day, Battaglia made and sold jewelry and also taught children to make jewelry through an after-school program.

Betty Thomas, a second-grade teacher at Clemens Crossing, described Battaglia as an easy-going and upbeat person.

"When she entered a room, there was always a spirit of joy because of her contagious laughter and her engaging smile," Thomas wrote in an e-mail. "You never heard her make an unkind remark. She had an unique style of dress that only she could do and do very well."

Along with her students and other artists, Battaglia helped create murals at Elkridge Landing and also on the outside of the Elkridge Branch Library.

Battaglia is survived by her mother, Lucy Witherspoon (nee Levasseur); her companion, Bill Murphy; her siblings, Michael, Timothy and Gregory Battaglia.

She was preceded in death by her father, Salvatore Battaglia.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Our Lady of Victory Church, in Catonsville, March 20, 2010.

Interment was at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, in Timonium.

Memorial contributions may be made to Defenders of Animal Rights, 14412 Old York Road, Phoenix, MD 21131.

Thanks Patti for all that you did for kids and for always

inspiring me.