Reverend Patrick Henry Battista, who, for nearly 27 years, demonstrated his powerful skills as a veteran blacksmith with the New York Renaissance Faire at Sterling Forest, Tuxedo Park, and was a long-time resident of the Tuxedo Park area, died Tuesday afternoon, December 7th, 2004, at his home in the village of Wurtsboro Hills.
Born in the Bronx, NY, on March 16th, 1945, to Josephine Tambone, of Cherry Hill, NJ; and the late Patrick Battista, Sr., he served as a member of the New York City Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit, and was a Detective with the Putnam County Police Department. An ordained minister, he was also a working pastor of the Celtic Christian Church who often worked as a cleric for various area hospitals. Rev. Battista also was connected with the Clan McLeod; and was a member of the Orange County Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.
In addition to his mother, Rev. Battista is survived by his eldest son Steven and his wife Shelly, of Richlands, NC; his daughter, Kristina and her husband, Mr. Jeff Zaffino, of Rossville, GA; his younger brother Henry and his wife Sofia; his grandchildren, Cole, Samantha, and Gianni; and several nieces and nephews.
Pat was, indeed, a rather pleasing and jolly fellow; his apprentice Tracy was an able and kind-hearted assistant in the day-to-day activities of his Magikal Forge. It was probably the most joyous place to settle down and enjoy the pleasure of everyone else's company. On occasion, I did tend to encounter a few of the more elegantly dressed among Sterling Forest's populace, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I especially.
As you know, I was lucky enough to have Her Majesty invite me to a rare demonstration of her singing abilities; I may or may not have told Pat about what had happened the day I was there. Still, if I did manage to tell him, I certainly hope that he took much pleasure in my news.
The 2005 Opening Weekend of Sterling Forest will, I suspect, be a rather teary affair, as there will be notices dedicating this year's New York Renaissance Faire to his memory. Luckily, it will do my heart good knowing that I will not be alone in my grief. Those behind the scenes at the Tuxedo Park Faire will, no doubt, mourn his loss by asking those gathered at Roselawn at the end of the day's last joust to observe silent contemplation in dear Patrick's honor.....
Patrick, dear friend, I shall miss you truly. Clearly, when I attend this year's Faire, I shall not be surprised by the overwhelming prepondernace of hankies that will be in vogue. That, my dear blacksmith, is because they'll be remembering you. And now, my friends, if you'll excuse me, I must blow my nose now. For, as you already know by now, even a Wizard has to have time to shed a tear or two once in a while........
