Robert Battista Obituary, Death – Robert (Bob) Battista was a beloved former Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). His distinguished career in public service and labor law made an unforgettable impression on the organization. From 2002 to 2007, Chairman Battista dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his role as Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an appointment made by President George W. Bush. After hearing of Bob’s death, Chairman Lauren McFerran conveyed her condolences to

his family and emphasized the lasting impact he had on the Agency. Having courageously fought congestive heart failure, Bob passed away on December 8, 2023, in Naples, FL, leaving behind his wife, children, granddaughter, and mother-in-law. Bob was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1939. He attended Notre Dame University and went on to get a law degree from the University of Michigan. From his time as an employment and labor relations lawyer at the Butzel Long firm in

Detroit to his significant role in revising the Michigan State Constitution in the early 1960s,  his career was filled with accomplishments. His distinguished service to the legal community was on full display as chair of the Michigan Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law section and as a member of numerous other prestigious organizations. Attributed with honors like the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Labor Board in 2006, Bob’s time at the NLRB was characterized by influential leadership and ethical behavior. Outside of work,

Bob enjoyed spending time with his loved ones, watching Notre Dame athletics, and playing golf and solving puzzles. Funeral services for Bob will take place on December 21, 2023, at St. Finbarr Catholic Church in Naples, FL. Following the mass, there will be a luncheon and burial. An alternative to floral tributes would be contributions in his honor to Tunnel to Towers or the American Heart Association. In this hour of great loss, the National Labor Relations Board and the legal and labor communities remember Bob Battista’s selfless service and extend condolences to his family.