Edward Battani was one of the most beloved members in the Romeo community. He was a teacher at Romeo High School from 1953 to 1986. Ed taught history, gym, and driver's education and coached football and basketball. In addition, he drove for the Greyhound Bus Company and cars for the Ford Proving Grounds as well as served in the Romeo and Bruce Township Fire Departments.
We previously talked about him and his wedding back in October 2024. Today, we want to focus on his work for the school. A graduate of Romeo High School, Ed received his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University. He began teaching in 1953 for the 7th grade at Washington Elementary and the 7th and 8th grade at Romeo Junior High, then called the Maples.
During his early years, Edward was a varsity football and a reserve (junior varsity) basketball coach at the high school. The photo seen here is from 1955. It was taken for the March 31st issue of The Romeo Observer Press, and it shows him clasping the shoulders of two trophy winners during the annual Romeo High School Athletic Department's basketball banquet. Bill Redman, left, received the most valuable player award, and Bernie Roberson, right, honorary captain for the reserve categories. Both played for the junior varsity team that Ed coached. He gave Bill and Bernie those awards during the ceremony, and through his body language, one can see that he truly believed in them.
When the Romeo High School moved to the building now known as the Romeo Middle School in 1958, Ed taught physical education. In 1968, he started teaching American History. He continued to coach, but by the end of his time at the high school, he was the referee for the football and basketball games.
Ed continued to make a difference in the Romeo community until his death in 2014. People who knew him as a teacher, coach, or in some other form continue to cherish him to this very day.
To learn more about Edward Battani, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890. If you want to search for articles on that topic, you can find the Romeo newspapers like The Romeo Observer on the Suburban Library Cooperative's Local History Digital Collection website.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, March 31, 1955, p.I-1, p.I-6, and III-5 and March 12, 2014, p.2-A; and 1954 and 1983 Romeo High School Yearbooks