John A. Batcho
Obituary
April 11,
1928 - December 17, 2013
She stops him in a Thai restaurant and asks Are you Mr. B.? You changed my
life. They hunt for him online to let him know his words, his passion made one
a professor of neuroscience another a published novelist. Thank you, Mr. Batcho. You changed my life. Those are the words spoken so
many times to John Batcho, a great teacher. John Batcho died on December 17, 2013 at the age of 85 in Los
Angeles, California after a brief battle with pneumonia and heart disease. John
graduated from Huntington Park High School and proudly worked as a mail carrier
for the U.S. Postal Service. After serving in the Korean War, he enrolled at
Los Angeles Community College and then transferred to UCLA where he earned his
B.A. in history and English. Mr. B., as he was often called
by his students, taught history, literature and composition for 30 years,
beginning at Marina del Rey Junior High School, then Venice High School,
from which he retired. He also taught at the University of Hawaii and the
Psychological Clinic School at UCLA. He pursued his passion for understanding
the learning process by completing an M.A. in Education at Cal State,
Northridge. A challenging, unforgettable teacher, John is survived by his
loving partner of 41 years, Marcey Henshel, his beloved sister Lillian Little, his brother
Donald Batcho, his nieces Tina, Khris
and Judy, and great nephews Michael and Eric. John also leaves behind his
stepson, Joseph Krahulik (Dorraine)
of Honolulu, Hawaii, his loving stepdaughter Dorie
Zuckerman of Pacific Palisades, his granddaughter
Amanda,
and his great grandsons, Eli and Matteo.
A gifted dancer, creative gardener, generous neighbor and
friend, John will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. No services were
held per John's request.
Published in the Los Angeles Times
on Jan. 5, 2014
Comments from others:
If you wish to add or change a comment, please send email
to: Students of Batcho@gmail.com
Mr. Batcho was the best teacher ever.
All of us who sat in his various classrooms were fortunate to be educated by
him, to laugh and smile with him, to learn writing skills from him, and to be
inspired by him. As my fellow Students of Batcho
attest, we usually didnÕt realize the full value of these experiences until
much later. He influenced me in my worldview and in my decision to become a
scientist, which is not the usual effect an English teacher has on his
students. Fortunately I was able to tell him that (over 3 decades later), and
in his eighties he was still just as funny, engaging, inspirational,
passionate, and down-to-earth as ever. People with such a great impact on so many
are rare, and deserve more gratitude. JohnÕs positive influences will continue,
in his students and friends as well as in their students.
- Ken Paller
John and Marcy were such an adorable
couple! I've always enjoyed being witness to their love and laughter and joy
for life. I send Marcy and all of their family my deepest condolences. We will
all miss him so very much!
- Kathy, Los Angeles,
California
He was one of my favorite teachers. I'll never forget reading
The Collector by John Fowles in his class. He treated
his students fairly, didn't talk down to us or treat us like hooligans. I'm a
novelist and short story writer and I'm sure Mr. Batcho
had something to do with that. My condolences to his family.
- Darrell Kastin, Sacramento, California
I am a 4th grade teacher and always bring up Mr. Batcho whenever I'm asked what makes a good teacher. He
made you feel like what you had to say was important. He was strict but kind.
He was disciplined and expected us to be as well. He challenged us to think. I remember
sitting in a circle discussing the book, The Collector, which I still have by
the way! My condolences to his family. Class of 1975
- Beverly Craig-Black, Vacaville,
California
I didn't know Mr. B, but I do know his step
daughter Dorie, who is amazing. On reading his
bio, I have no wonder she is so amazing! He sounds most amazing and one of the
Brightest Blessings we could have! I am sorry I never had the chance to meet
him. May he rest in Peace. I wish comfort to his
family.
- Kathie
Years ago I ran into Mr. Batcho &
Ms. Henshel at a Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica.
I told him then what a precious gift he gave me as a student in his English
class at Venice High. The man taught me how to be more analytical without
losing emotion. He taught me to be myself. He was humble and a wonderful
teacher. I am forever grateful. I'm glad I was able to tell him in person. Condolence to his family.
Thanks again, Mr. Batcho. RIP.
VHS Class of '83
- Ophelia Pasibe-Glasser, California
I always loved to read but Mr. Batcho
made me believe I could write too. He was a great teacher, and a great man. I
will never forget him. Go gently into the goodnight, sir.
- Jeanette PM, Durham,, North Carolina
The world lost a good one! RIP Mr. Batcho
thanks for teaching me how to write!
I don't have the faintest idea of who John was but I just read
"Mr. B's" obit in the LA Times... Who starts something like that with
"She stops him in a Thai restaurant and asks..."
A great obit, I'm sure he was a hell of an interesting guy and left an equally
interesting mark on the world.
- Michael W, Manhattan
Beach, California
He was the greatest Teacher At Marina Del Rey Jr High. He Was My Mentor And I Will Never Forget Him.
- Robert Villa, Los
Angeles, California
Mr. Batcho is part of my soul forever.
He made the world seem like a place where anything was possible. He gave me a
love for literature and the craft of writing itself. At an age where everything
was confusing and troubling, he was the lighthouse in the madness, letting us
know that everything was okay. He was the one who stuck with me, inside of my
skin, inside my blood, tattooed in my memory forever.
The work he did has created peace, love and understanding of
fellow humans. I am as inspired today as I was all
those years back in his English class.
He was, and will continue to be, the gateway to the world as it
should be.
Enjoy your next adventure Mr. Batcho, all those you taught
us about and spoke about with such passion, are waiting to greet you in heaven.
I can imagine Mr. Batcho right now,
sitting down with Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre in a cafe' in heaven. An infinite conversation that is causing debate and laughter for
eternity.
His laugh is echoing down over the earth.
- Christopher Herz, Brooklyn, New York
My deepest sympathies. May you put
faith in God's promises. Obits.
After keeping in contact with Mr. Batcho
all these years (never could bring myself to call him "John"), we
were sad to learn why we didn't get a holiday card from him this past year...
(Even just this past spring, he wrote my teenage daughter a lengthy letter
about Jazz music when he found out she plays the sax--they had never met.)
Truly, the person who most influenced my life. A big loss,
but he leaves a great legacy--all us who had the privilege of sitting in his
classroom at VHS. Only hope I can influence my kids to read some Albert Camus
and Octavio Paz...
His is a life to be celebrated. Our best wishes to Marcey.
- Michael Cappas, Peachtree City, Georgia