Joseph Eugene Batt, 86, widower of Audrey Helen Hawman Batt, of Greenville, died Thursday, December 14, 2017.
Born in Bridgeport, CT, he was the son of the late John and Estelle Battagliola.
Joseph was a lifelong Catholic. He graduated from Fairfield Preparatory School and Fairfield University, and attended Boston College Law School and Mount St. Mary’s seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.
After the loss of both parents, Joseph spent a year in Italy with his extended family, setting the stage for later wonderful visits with Audrey, who he met at a family wedding on his return to the States. Joe started his 20+ year career in the insurance industry in CT as an adjuster at Travelers and Nationwide. After rising through the ranks at Nationwide in New England to an offered move to leadership in Ohio, he opted to pioneer the first direct sales agency in the SC Lowcountry on Hilton Head (Nationwide), earning awards for sales and service over the following two decades.
Joseph was president of the Hilton Head chapter of Lions Club and Deputy District Governor for two terms.
Joe and Audrey stayed close to their family, moving to Charlotte and then Greenville where he became president of the Woodlands Resident Board of Directors and established a vibrant Catholic Ministry.
Joseph leaves his only daughter, Beth Batt Nichols and husband, Charles, and their children, Virginia and Jack, whom he adored; his brother-in-law and three nephews and a niece.
In addition to his parents and beloved wife of almost 55 years, he was preceded in death by his dear sister, Marie Pivirotto.
The family would like to thank the phenomenal staff at the Woodlands and Homestead Hospice.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Nichols residence, 305 Riverside Dr., Greenville, SC 29605. The funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church preceded by a recitation of the Rosary at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Catholic School, 311 Gower St., Greenville, SC 29611.
