About 1,000 people gathered on Saturday for the memorial of former state Sen. Ray Bateman.
BRANCHBURG TWP. -- Ray Bateman, the revered former state senator from Somerset County, was eulogized Saturday as a principled leader dedicated to his family and passionate about furthering education in New Jersey.
The service, which attracted more than 1,000 people, took place on the campus of Raritan Valley Community College. Bateman was the architect of legislation creating New Jersey's county college system
Bateman, a once gubernatorial candidate who had also served as the head of the state Republican Party, died at the age of 88 on June 25 at Morristown Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
Top state officials and several former New Jersey governors were in attendance, including Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), and former governors Thomas Kean and Christie Todd Whitman.
Several speakers, including Whitman, talked about Bateman's passion for education -- particularly for advancing the cause of community college education.
"His vision of community colleges changed so many lives," Whitman said. "He was always the person you looked to for integrity and honesty. He was a mentor and always a role model and a dear friend. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word."
Bateman advocated for the growth and expansion of Raritan Valley Community College, and he was ultimately able to convince then-Gov. Whitman to expand funding for community colleges in the state by $48 million.
While serving as co-chair of New Jersey's community colleges' "Teams for Tomorrow" committee, Bateman helped bring a $200-million increase in the Chapter XII community college construction and building renovation fund.
Bateman's son, Christopher "Kip" Bateman, who now occupies the Senate seat his father held for more than a decade, became emotional as he recalled his fondest memories and most admired qualities of his father.
"He would not tolerate friction in the family," Kip Bateman said. "We were blessed to be such a close family ... he was always there to lean on.
"Dad loved life and people. He (saw) the greatness in people ... He was one of a kind. I am just glad he was with us for 88 years. I could not have asked for a better dad and a better role model, " he said.
Rev. Todd Buurstra, of the North Branch Reformed Church, gave the invocation.
"When I think of Ray, I think of the word 'lead.' He had a commanding personality. He was engaged socially. He was tough and positive. But more than a leader, Ray was, above everything else, a dad. His family meant more to him than anything else," said Buurstra.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.