In Loving Memory of
Dr. Mitchell Edeiken Batoff
January 6, 1932 – January 24, 2025
Virtual Memorial Gathering
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Watch a Video Recording
A video recording is available below.
- On mobile devices it is best viewed in landscape orientation
- Tap or click on video to unmute and expand to full screen or to airplay from a mobile device to a SmartTV
- Please consider signing our guest book below to acknowledge your presence in support of the family.
Dr. Mitchell Edeiken Batoff Obituary
Dr. Mitchell Edeiken Batoff, or Mitch, to his friends was a fierce advocate for science education at all levels, devoting his life’s work to the discipline of teaching and sharing the wonders of science. He passed in Nutley, NJ on January 24, 2025 at the age of 93.
He was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1932 to Louis and Anne Batoff, living in that city through his undergraduate years at St. Joseph’s College. He received a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University and while teaching elementary science in the Scarsdale school system, obtained his Doctorate in Education from Teachers College of Columbia University.
While teaching elementary science, he met his first spouse, Bertha Batoff (nee Morris). He had earned a reputation for some of his madcap science demonstrations for the 5th grade class and those stories made their way to the kindergarten class run by Bertha. She found his enthusiasm for science education irresistible and the two were wed in Carmel, NY on June 30, 1968.
After their wedding, the couple moved to Belleville, NJ and he and Bertha adopted three children from South Korea, Sang Mi, Soo Mi and Dae Sung. He shared his love of travel with them with annual summer tours of the continental United States in their Coachmen RV, and spring breaks in Antigua. His enthusiasm for fine music, fine dining and live theater also rubbed off on them with frequent forays into New York City to enjoy shows on Broadway and classical music at the Lincoln Center with late night meals afterwards.
He continued his career in science education, becoming an associate professor and then eventually a full professor at Jersey City State College. One of his achievements was establishing a center for science education at the college that implemented his doctoral thesis of hands-on, kit based education. He retired in 2001 and was given Professor Emeritus status at the institution.
His children often joked that retirement did not suit him and he embodied that with his engagement with the New Jersey Science Teachers Association where he served in various official positions. He also joined the homeowner’s association to advocate for the change he wanted to see, especially with the management of the pool, where he could indulge his love of swimming.
When not teaching, his other passion was photography, both as an art and as science. He would expound on the technical details of his collection of cameras, ranging from the pocket-sized Minolta to the latest digital camera. His expertise in this area was displayed in the enormous amount of photos he took. He delighted in taking photos of people, places and later in life wildlife, with frequent trips to Cape May during the height of bird migration.
A frequent companion on these later excursions was his second wife, Irma (nee Alvarez). They made the rounds of the local restaurants and theaters with trips to Tanglewood, MA.
Mitchell will always be remembered for his full throttle approach to life. Whether it was gathering materials for his education courses, books to expand his knowledge or wind-up toys to investigate their mechanisms, he would dive in head first and digest every nugget that he could. Often, this tendency would lead to him accumulating so much material that his study would be considered a fire hazard and the contents would spill over to the rest of the house. He had an amazing grasp of his hoard, though, being able to pull out materials from years ago with just a little searching. The only area this organizational ability escaped him was with the advent of digital photography and the endless amounts of storage he filled with his photos.
Mitch was preceded in death by Bertha Batoff and is survived by his children and Irma, his sister-in-law (Bertha’s sister) Mrs. Gloria Jones and niece, Elizabeth Jones.
The Library or How I will Remember You
Shelf after shelf, overflowing with a lifetime
The books are the oldest wealth
The covers leathered and taut
The spines creased and faded
Ridged, hunched, skinned in antique ivory
Wafting of decay and antiseptic
Pull a book to read of a life full lived
This one is a life of knowledge
Hard won from unstopping study
And crafted to share a love
Of Science with all of its miracles
That one is an adventure tale
Of midnight fog bound mountain switchbacks,
Clinging to the edge, creeping as 18 wheels thunder by
Threatening to be hurtled into the abyss
Here is an art book
Life lived through 4 inches square
A frame at a time, a million moments
Distilled to the prized few
Curated and presented for perfect effect
The rest set aside, not deleted but forgotten
The books repose on the shelves
Each one a distinct knot of time
The text rambling at times
Always with passion and conviction
An avaricious accumulation of facts
Waiting to surprise, waiting to be shared
I look for me among the thousands
To borrow from that wealth
And share it with my own
-Dae Sung Batoff
@
Mitch – intelligent, kind, thoughtful and dedicated.
He was a beloved husband to Bertha and spoke fondly and proudly of his children every chance he could..
He made debating ideas and philosophy regarding science education (especially activities and demonstrations) interesting and FUN for all involved.
@
I’m so sorry I cannot join this today. We are on a boat heading to Norway and will soon loose internet. Speaking of Norway, Mitch and Bertha looked after us for a summer when I was around 5, so my parents could take a trip to Norway. I have such fond memories of that time and all our other visits, including the fantastic Thanks Givings in NJ. Mitch was so full of life, always smiling and genuinely curious about the people and life around him. The only time he wasn’t smiling was when he visited and we as kids would sneak in to bug him early in the morning. Mitch was NOT a morning person, but he made us laugh so much! He had a very full life and was loved dearly. Rest in peace Mitch. I will always hold all those memories dear.
Much Love,
Jessica
@
Dear Mitch was a pleasure to know you. We have something in common to continue learning no matter what old we are. Also we love traveling and music.
@
Mitch will be remembered for how kind and generous he always was with everyone around him. Someone who had such a free spirit. It’s a tragic loss that he is not here with us anymore.
@
Dearest Mitch, it was truly a pleasure meeting you. A strong, intelligent, and curious gentleman, your smile and our conversations will always be cherished and deeply missed.
May God’s love and grace be with you and all your family.
@
I feel it’s a privilege and a joy to have had Mitch in our lives. To have memories of boating on the Hudson River, swimming, picnicking, and sailing on Candlewood Lake. Also our travels to Maine and Moosehead Lake. Dave always enjoyed sharing his passion for photography with Mitch.
I am glad he is reunited with the love of his life Bertha.
Rest in peace my friend.
@
Kind soul and a brilliant mind. A delight to spend time with.
@
Dr. Batoff was a great father-in-law. I remember that when Sang Mi introduced me to her family for the first time, he welcomed me with a warm smile and took me to a very fancy restaurant in New Jersey. He was a great scientist with curiosity and never short of interesting topics to share with me. I hope that he rests in peace with his ever lasting warm smile.
@
Thank you Grandpa for inspiring me to pursue the wonderful world of science. You helped feed my curiosity about the scientific world and built the bridge towards understanding. I remember rewatching those old DVDs you sent me for Christmas about spiders, water cycles, etc. until they became scratched. Also, you taught me about financial security and how investing in a company’s stock may give a return on investment larger than the amount you initially spent. You have always been a great teacher to me and I hope to share what you taught me with more people.