Former UA history professor dies at 80

Herman Edward "Pete" Bateman Photo courtesy Arline Bateman

Herman Edward "Pete" Bateman, a UA history professor for more than 30 years, died May 23, 1997, of Alzheimer's disease. He was 80.

Bateman taught U.S. history at the university from 1946-80, and also served as associate dean of the Graduate College for seven years.

"He was an outstanding teacher. He was very conscientious in lectures and in preparing and was very good at making good contact with his students," said retired UA history professor Bob Browder.

Born in El Paso, Texas, in 1916, Bateman lived in Monterrey, Mexico with his parents and in San Jose, Calif. with his aunt and grandmother.

Bateman, who was named after his father, was nicknamed "Pete" because his grandmother took one look at him when he was born and said he looked like a Pete, said his wife Arline Bateman.

He received his bachelor's degree from San Jose State University in 1937 and earned his masters degree two years later from the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1953, he returned to school to earn a doctorate in history from Stanford University.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Coast Guard before applying at the UA.

"Many of the trips he took as a child by bus from Mexico to San Jose went through Tucson," Arline Bateman said. "That is one of the reasons he applied to UA."

Browder said Bateman was a friendly, non-judgmental colleague. He said his strongest teaching attribute was his relationship with students.

In 1971, Bateman received a university creativity in teaching award.

"He most enjoyed U.S. constitutional history," Arline Bateman said.

While he was not teaching, Bateman liked to travel, hike and work on his toy trains, which took up the entire carport, she said.

"He was a member of a local train club. It was a childhood hobby that just grew and grew," she said.

After his retirement in 1980, Bateman continued his hobbies and also volunteered at the University Medical Center as a CPR instructor.

In addition to his wife Arline, Bateman is survived by his daughter, Ann Justison of Oakland, Calif.; his son, Thomas of Flagstaff; and five grandchildren.