Bob Batz passes away

Former BJ columnist Bob Batz (1966-1970) passed away Friday, December 16.

Bob Batz

He left Ol’ Blue Walls to write columns for the Dayton Daily News till his 2007 retirement. Even after that, he wrote a column for the Brookville Star, just north of Dayton, till his passing.

He was a University of Dayton adjunct professor for more than 24 years.

Bob grew up in Flint, Michigan, where he met his late wife, Sally Samalley Batz. Their children are Pittsburgh Post Gazette editor-writer Bob, Jr., Laurie Batz Fryman, Jackie Batz Erbaugh and Chris Batz. They have seven grandchildren.

Bob and Sally shared a 150-year-old home in Brookville, where both worked in the Brookville Volunteer Fire Department.

Bob began as a copy boy at the Flint Journal, then worked at the Rochester, New York newspaper before coming to the BJ.

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.