Submitted by his wife

Firefighter George F. Batelli‚ Sr. (55) of Garfield Fire Department‚ Engine Company #1‚ suffered a major heart attack while responding to a multiple alarm fire in Fair Lawn‚ New Jersey. He leaves behind his wife Linda‚ his children George Jr.‚ Dawn & Sherry‚ his son-in-law Brian‚ daughter-in-law Evy & 4 grandchildren – Alexa‚ Nicholas‚ Brittany & Danielle.

George was a member of the Garfield Fire Department‚ Engine Company #1 for 25 years and was the Assistant Engineer. He was a father figure to the younger members of his company. He was always there to give a helping hand to anybody who needed him.

George was a very active member of our City. He was involved in many organizations such as the Garfield Girls Softball League‚ the Garfield Junior Boilermakers Football and Cheerleading League and the Garfield Volunteer Ambulance Corp. He was a Board Member and Treasurer for the New Jersey Employee’s Labor Union Local #1.

Aside from helping others he loved spending time with his family – especially his 4 grandchildren. He had a summer home in Upstate New York and his favorite thing was spending time on his boat with his wife.

Submitted by his niece

For my Uncle George‚

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads its white sails in the morning breeze and starts out for the blue ocean.

He is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch‚ until at length‚ he hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come together with each other.

Then‚ someone at my side says‚ ‘He is gone.’ But I know he is only gone from my sight and that is all.

It is just as large in mast and hull and spar as he was when he left my side and just as able to bear the load of freight to the place of destination.

His diminished size is in me‚ not in him and just at the moment when someone at my side says‚ ‘There‚ he is gone.’ – there are other eyes watching him coming and another voice to shout‚ ‘Here he comes!’

With all of my love‚
Kimberly