William Batoff, fund-raiser to presidents, dies

[PCIntern]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly.com


William W. Batoff, 76, a major political fund-raiser who helped elect mayors, governors and even presidents, died Saturday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

His son Jeffrey, a local attorney, said that Mr. Batoff, who lived Center City, had gone into the hospital for surgery related to bladder cancer.

Gov. Rendell, for whom Mr. Batoff raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, on Saturday called him "a force in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia politics for four decades."

His success, in business as well as in politics, wasn't based on education or pedigree. A one-time street kid from South Philadelphia, he served with the Air Force in the Korean War and never graduated from high school. He was a self-made man every inch of the way.



Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20110115_William_Batoff__fundraiser_to_presidents__dies.html

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A friend, confidante, and helper for over 25 years, I'm deeply saddened by this loss.

[MgtPA]

1. Oh my...I worked for Bill in the mid '70s.

[PCIntern]

2. you must know the 'crew' as well as I do...

interesting stories...

PC

[MgtPA]

3. Maybe not, unless the real estate crew followed him into politics. I worked for Bill and his

brother-in-law, Neal, in '73-'74 when they had a real estate company (United Real Estate) in Abington. I was very young (first job out of school), but I liked working for them. Good parties!