State Sen. Raymond H. Bateman was a former gubernatorial candidate and head of the state Republican party.
BRANCHBURG -- The life of long-serving iconic State Sen. Raymond H. Bateman will be celebrated during a memorial service on Saturday being held in the Raritan Valley Community College Theatre.
The service will start at 10:30 a.m.
Bateman, a former gubernatorial candidate and head of the state Republican party from Somerset County, died at age 88 on Saturday June 25 at Morristown Memorial Hospital, his family said. He had recently suffered from pneumonia after breaking his shoulder.
"It is my honor to invite the public to a memorial service for my father, Raymond Bateman, at his beloved Raritan Valley Community College," said State Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-16), who now holds the senate seat his father once occupied. "My father's passion for expanding access to affordable, quality higher education touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Jersey students.
"It is fitting that we honor his legacy of dedicated public service at the institution he was proud to support for more than 40 years. On behalf of our family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the RVCC community for helping us celebrate his life in such a special way."
Iconic state senator served for many years
Bateman was born in Somerville on Oct. 29, 1927. He served for two decades in the New Jersey Legislature, including stints as assistant majority leader and majority leader in the General Assembly. He also served three terms as president of the Senate and more than 100 days as acting governor.
In 1977, Bateman won the Republican gubernatorial primary over Thomas H. Kean, but lost the general election to Brendan T. Byrne.
Following his legislative career, Bateman, who co-authored legislation creating New Jersey's community college system, served on the board of trustees at Raritan Valley Community College, the state's first bi-county community college, for more than three decades. During his tenure on the board, he played an instrumental role in the growth and expansion of the college.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to North Branch Reformed Church, The Ray Bateman Student Center for Student Life and Leadership at Raritan Valley Community College or the Pleasant Pond Protective Association.
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