Michael Louis Battistelli

Michael Louis Battistelli, age 72, resident of Oakland, Tennessee and Husband of the late Jill Elizabeth Battistelli. departed this life Wednesday morning July 16th at Methodist Germantown Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee.

Affectionately known as “Weezer”, Michael was born November 26, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of the late Elmo Battistelli and Elizabeth Angelo Battistelli. Michael graduated from Fairley High School and attended the University of Memphis.

Michael moved to Alaska in the mid-70’s, initially working on the Alaskan Pipeline and eventually opening a record and video store in Anchorage. In 1986, Michael moved to Seattle, Washington and spent several years as a Territory Sales representative for Major Video Concepts. After moving back to Memphis in 2004, he went to work for Technicolor and retired as a warehouse manager.

Once in Memphis he also rekindled his relationship with Jill Elizabeth Wright. Jill and Mike proved to be a true love story. They married in September 2005 and were inseparable for the remainder of their lives.

After moving to Oakland with Jill, they joined Saint Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, TN and soon after Michael joined the Knights of Columbus of the church and was an enthusiastic member.

Upon moving back to Memphis, Michael also spearheaded the Battistelli family entering the Memphis Italian Fest. This proved to be a success and started a 20+ year annual Family reunion that rekindled old relationships and has fostered many new ones.

Michael was a people person and a sweet soul. He loved his family, his friends and he was a great lover of music with a great vinyl record collection that he loved to share. Michael loved sports as well. He played on men’s softball teams for much of his life and later coached his niece Sophia’s soccer and softball teams. He loved to play bocce and he was a U of Memphis football and basketball fan.

Mr. Battistelli is survived by his two sisters, Toni Anderson (Rusty) and Ann Griffin (Greg); and his nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Elmo Battistelli.