Antonio Batista

Antonio Batista, 79, a devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather and great-grandfather, and a friend to everyone he met, passed away on August 21, 2026, in Bayonne, New Jersey.

Born on July 18, 1947, in Utuado, Puerto Rico, Antonio was the beloved son of Juan Batista Torres and Laureana Batista Negron. He spent his early years in Puerto Rico before making New Jersey his home, living for many years in Jersey City and later Bayonne.

Antonio shared 59 beautiful years with his beloved wife, Georgina Quintana, building a life centered around family, love, hard work, and the simple things that brought him happiness. Together, they created a home that became a gathering place for generations of their family and a lifetime of treasured memories.

He was the loving father of Sara, Lisa, and Antonio, and a cherished father-in-law to Sean. His greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren Ciara, Sean, Lauren, Ramon, and Brandon, and his great-grandchildren Christian, Jacob, Sean, Isaiah, Zion, Levi, and Layden. To his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he was affectionately known simply as “Pipa,” a name spoken with tremendous love and one that will forever hold a special place in their hearts. He is also survived by several loving siblings, Angel, Carmen, Jenero, Samuel, Thomas, Isabel, Gloria, Santa, Julio, and Lydia.

Throughout his life, Antonio worked as a laborer and in the hospitality industry, but those who knew him would agree that one of his greatest talents could never be captured by a job title. He was quite simply the best handyman around. There seemed to be nothing Pipa could not fix, build, improve, or figure out, and he was always willing to lend his hands and his knowledge to someone who needed him.

Antonio was also a master gardener who took great pride in nurturing and growing the things around him. His love for his Puerto Rican heritage remained an important part of his life, and he especially enjoyed listening to traditional música jíbara.

Yet it was often the traditions inside his home that his family will remember most. Every holiday brought requests for Pipa's famous homemade rice pudding, “Pipa-nanas,” and coquito, all of which were eagerly anticipated and always in high demand. These were more than favorite recipes. They were part of the warmth, laughter, and love that filled the Batista family gatherings, and they will forever bring memories of him back to the table.

Antonio never needed much to be happy. He was humble, gentle, undemanding, and remarkably content with the life he had built. He loved his family deeply, treated people with kindness, and had a way of making friends wherever he went. His legacy will not be measured by possessions or accomplishments, but by the countless things he fixed, the gardens he tended, the traditions he created, the people he helped, and above all, the family he loved so completely.

After nearly six decades together, his wife Georgina leaves him with these words:

“Thank you for the 59 years that we shared, the life we built, and the love that I will carry in my heart forever.”

And from the family whose lives will forever bear his imprint: "We love you, Dad. We love you, Pipa. We will miss you more than words can say, and we will carry you with us always."

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 3205 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306. Interment will follow at Arlington Cemetery in Kearny, New Jersey. In celebration of Antonio's life, his family kindly invites those attending his services to join us in honoring him with a white, black, and purple theme.  Guests are encourage to incorporate these colors into their attire and/or floral tributes as a beautiful expression of love and remembrance.