For more Pictures of Batastini and other past chiefs, click
here.
On Saturday May 14,
the Fire Department announced the passing of Retired Deputy
Chief Albert Batastini. Batastini first was elected to
the position of Assistant Chief in 1954 and retired from
the Department in 1974 as a 1st Deputy Chief.
Although retired, the Chief continued to assist
the Department as a firefighter, EMT
and member of the Scuba Team that he helped to form. In
1961, during a 2 day search for the body of a drowning victim
in the Schuylkill River, Batastini brought about the discussion
of having divers available to search below the surface of
the water. Searches prior to this basically involved waiting
for the body to surface and then snagging the victim and
pulling them into shore. In 1962 a group of individuals officially
formed the Reading Fire Department
Underwater Recovery Squad.
Batastini died at the Manor Care in Lancaster County on
May 12, he was 81 years old. Services are listed as private.
Tony Miccicke, photographer and historian
of the Fire Department, a long time friend of Batastini's,
shared his thoughts with us and offered a look into the sorted
process the Chief had to endure to get and keep his position,
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