In Memory
Information from Sally Gnott 10/07/2018
Chris G. Batalis
Dec. 19. 1938 - Oct. 10, 2016
SOUTH BEND - Chris G. Batalis, 77, of South Bend, passed away unexpectedly on Monday morning, October 10th, in his residence. Mr. Batalis was born December 19, 1938, in South Bend, to the late Ethel (Lambrou) and George C. Batalis, and was a lifetime area resident.
On August 21, 1960, in South Bend, he married Arlene F. (Baker) Batalis, who survives. He is also survived by his sons, Tim G. Batalis (Cindy Brazo) and Phillip E. Batalis (Cindy), both of Granger; his daughter, Melanie Batalis of Indianapolis; his three grandchildren, Nicholas, Stephanie and Jason Batalis; and his brother, Ike G. Batalis (Sarah) of Bluffton, SC. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by his younger sister, Bessie Reimnitz, and an older sister, Mary, who died as an infant.
Chris was well-known and respected in the local business community, beginning a successful 20-year career in banking at the former St. Joseph Bank & Trust Company of South Bend, where he rose to the position of vice president of marketing before serving as senior vice president of marketing at St. Joseph Valley Bank in Elkhart (now NBD). In April of 1979, he founded Heptagon, Inc., a leading marketing/advertising agency in South Bend, Indiana. now in its second generation of ownership. In 1988, with his brother Ike, he founded Metrobank, a commercial bank in Indianapolis, taking it public before eventually agreeing to be acquired by First Indiana Bank.
Chris was a past-president and served on the boards of the Summit Club, Junior Achievement of Indiana, the former Sales and Advertising Executives Club, and as vice chairman and board member of the former Madison Center. He also served on the boards of MetroBank, the St. Joseph County Parks Foundation, the Studebaker National Museum, the South Bend Art Center, the South Bend Symphony, the St. Joseph County Historical Society, and the South Bend Country Club, where he was a member for over 50 years.
In his spare time, Chris loved spending time with his family. who adored him, golfing with his close friends at SBCC, rooting for his beloved New York Yankees, and wintering with his loving wife of 56 years on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. He was a lifelong member of St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend, Indiana.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 14th, in St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, with Rev. George Konstantopoulos officiating. Committal services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends today, October 13th, from 4 until 8 p.m. in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Rd., where a Trisagion prayer service will be held today at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to REAL Services of South Bend, Inc., Attn: Becky Zaseck, P.O. Box 1835, South bend, IN 46634, designated toward heating assistance for the elderly, or to St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church.
Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.
03/25/2022 DEC
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