Peter Ralph Bateman

Peter Ralph Bateman, age 73, passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Peter's last words were, "I love you."  He was crying.  Several days before that he told me, "I want to live."

Pete wanted to live and keep on living.  He endured countless surgeries and unimaginable pain.  His love for life was fierce.

Life and love are everlasting.  Life changes and love deepens but it never ends.

As I looked at his pictures from when he was a baby, teenager, young adult and on, I see the man who had an internal compass for capturing as much of this world as he could.  He loved the outdoors and all that it entailed...camping, fishing, and traveling.  This was a drive set in him as a child when he was an Eagle Scout, golf caddy (he rode his bike to the golf course in Downer's Grove, a suburb of Chicago), baseball player (again rode his bike 5 miles to practice) and especially when he experienced an extended camping trip as a teenager with his uncle in the state of Washington.  On this trip he even had his first taste of bear.

After deciding the small Midwest college was not for him, he applied to go to the University of Berkeley.  Upon graduation, he became a book salesman for Harcourt and Brace working with colleges.  This left him wanting so he went to law school in Colorado.  There, he enjoyed camping and skiing.  Of course, as an intellectual, he excelled in his studies.  He worked for various law firms in downtown Chicago, San Diego and Manhattan Beach.  He ended his professional career in Albuquerque as the Risk Manager for the city.  In between all this, he always pursued his passions for music, camping and fishing.

He always tried to be a good son to his parents and a kind brother to Deborah and Dean.  Some of the activities Dean recollects with his big brother were playing pool, snow skiing, fishing, and Cubs games.  He always wrote to his family (back in the day when we wrote letters and send them through the mail) even when he was on the go to the next adventure!  He drove his sister, Deborah, to the University of New Mexico from Illinois as she started her first semester of college after her high school graduation.

When he came to Albuquerque in 1990, it was to test it out and if he didn't like it, he would go on to Tucson.  Well, he met me and found he loved Albuquerque.  I let him know exactly what it would be like to date a single parent with 4 kids.  He didn't falter.  He had the courage to take the next step to marriage.  In 1992, we were married and now he had a partner to join him on his adventures.

As cancer and surgeries ravaged his life, he turned to the computer and used his intellectual talents to pursue other interests which included purchasing phenomenal stereo speakers to enrich his listening pleasure.  Pet was also, like his mother, a home decorator.  He mixed patterns and colors so that they were soothing and beautiful.  In every room of our home, I see his excellent taste in furnishings.

I believe that the right people are brought into our lives at the right time.  He and I, with all our fault and failings, remained faithful to the end.

Due to COVID, Peter's Life Celebration will be held at a later date.

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