When Jon Batastini got the word he would be the “honoree” at the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Celebration Dinner and Roast, set for Tuesday September 13 at the Flanders Hotel, he said “No way!”
“I thought there are so many deserving people. The only thing I could think of is I make a pretty good target,” the 48-year-old attorney said with a laugh.
It’s easy to see why Batastini, a partner with the Ocean City firm Loveland, Garrett and Batastini might feel that way. With his trademark “fishing pants” which most stores sell under the name “pajama bottoms” and the misadventures he endured running his boat aground during Storm Jonas as examples, there is ample material. And Batastini loves to laugh. “If it’s at my expense, so be it,” he said.
However, a closer look reveals more things to be lauded, than roasted. A member of the Ocean City Board of Education, Batastini is also Past President of the Ocean City Exchange Club, a Trustee Board member for the Free Library of Ocean City and the Friends of the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, and a Board member of the Chamber, among his many other public service activities.
“One of the things that distinguish Ocean City from other places is that sense of community. It’s just a wonderful town,” he said.
Apparently the affection shown by the Chamber is mutual. In the promotional materials for the roast, they refer to Jon as “Ocean City’s most interesting attorney.”
The event starts with a 6 p.m. social hour followed by dinner at 6:30 and the roast. Tickets are $55 per person. RSVP by September 7th to the Chamber by calling 609-399-1412. RSVP’s may also be faxed at (609) 398-3932.
In addition to individual tickets there are three levels of sponsorships and four sizes of ads available in the program book. Deadline is September 7th for the program book. Ads may be mailed to the Chamber at PO Box 1706 or e-mailed to info@oceancitychamber.com.
When the night finally arrives, Batastini envisions “quite a few comments about my fishing attire.” He said he favors pajama pants because “I love to fish, but I don’t like bugs, particularly biting flies that go after my ankles. I’ve tried sweatpants, shorts with high socks, bug sprays, lotions, you name it.”
Nothing else gave him the combination of comfort and leg protection like pajamas, he says. From there, the legend grew.
“If I’m out fishing and then decide to go out to meet friends, I’m not going home the change first,” he said. As a result, “pajamas have become a favorite gift item people have for me” on birthdays and at Christmas.
As for leaving his boat high and dry, he sheepishly talked about the day of Storm Jonas when he needed to move the craft to a safer location and wound up getting stranded on the shores of –where else?—Jonas Island, under the Margate Bridge.
“There was a question of whether the tow boat could get to me and the weather was getting bad. It was, truthfully getting a little scary. So at that point all I could do was walk around my boat and take pictures.”
Eventually the tow boat succeeded in pulling his craft out of harm’s way, but Batastini doubts he will “ever” live down the incident, he said.
A native of Cherry Hill, Jon has lived in Ocean City for 26 years with his wife Leigh. They have a daughter, Emily, 17, who is a senior at Ocean City High School. A graduate of Bishop Eustace Prep and Rutgers University with a bachelor of science in Environmental Health an Industrial Hygiene, he has advanced education from Temple University’s School of Engineering and Rutgers-Camden’s School of Law.
As a result of all the educational opportunities he enjoyed and the many doors they have opened, Batastini feels a strong desire to advocate education and work for the betterment of our schools in Ocean City.
For all of his accomplishments, Jon’s main rule of life “is very simple,” he says. “We’re here for a good time, and not for a long time.”
He will put the first part of that credo into practice on the evening of September 13. Those wishing to do the same should reserve their spot with the Chamber.
