Jeannie López and Bob Batey: It was the loss of them that allowed us to see the celestial connection between them

At first blush, Maria Eugenia “Jeannie” López and Robert Batey had very little in common. Jeannie was the 88 year-old grand dame who graced the stages of the Laredo Little Theater as both an actress and director since the 1990’s. Batey was mainly known as the eclectic guitar-playing dude behind a burgeoning Laredo music and art scene.

But when they both passed away within a few days of each other in early July, those who grieved for them came to learn how closely their worlds orbited in this galaxy around this sun we know as Laredo.

Jeannie’s artistic bent ranged from being a violinist with the local college and civic orchestras, to acting, and then as singer with the legendary Valdez Brothers Orchestra. She not only crooned tunes in her signature voice, but she also composed lyrics both in Spanish and English, in the same song. At her post-funeral celebration at the Laredo Little Theater, family and friends gave one last listen to a reel to reel recording of songs composed for her sons, and a lover’s farewell that now took new meaning. Her contributions to the arts, however, were more deeply embedded in the tale of her life.

Jeannie’s significant participation in artistic endeavors occurred after she began a second career as an educator. Famous for her gentle touch, she attributed her decorum and professionalism to her first career as a telephone operator. Her true calling, however, was in teaching and writing in combination with her love for theater and music.

She taught at Martin High School and became involved with its theater department in which she forged a friendship with Andrea Cobos Batey, a former Martin High thespian now returned to her alma mater to give back to children living in west Laredo. This passion for realizing the potential of our city’s students and artists would be the foundation of their relationship.

After her tenure at Martin High School, Jeannie was lured by the prospect of working at the Laredo Independent School District’s Vidal M. Treviño Magnet School for the Fine Arts. The school’s mission was to nurture the aspirations of those with artistic talent while assisting them in fulfilling their academic requirements. More relationships with gifted students from the school district were fomented during her years there.

After retirement from the public schools, Jeannie found herself at St. Augustine High School where her infectious spirit won over students immediately. Her message was simple and consistent. Believe in yourself and make your dream a reality. She knew how to recognize talent and how to encourage the creative process. She often said that the true gift of every person was to utilize his or her imagination. And Jeannie’s students clearly felt her loving ways.

All during this time she was directing shows at the Laredo Little Theater and was the godmother and director of summer shows at Laredo’s first community stage.

At each turn, Jeannie was quick to marvel at how many gifted artists were in Laredo.   From her academic perch she kept tabs on her students and their cohorts as they blossomed both in and out of Laredo.

In her 70s, Jeannie was not yet done with contributions to the Laredo arts scene. This time it was as a member of the Teatro Chicano and later as leader of La Frontera Writers. The goal of both groups was to write, produce, and direct local theatrical productions with a Laredo flavor. While all of the writers stuck to comedy, farce, or drama, Jeannie ventured out and wrote not only dialogue, but also composed music and lyrics and included dance in her productions. The goal again was to highlight Laredo’s stories and acting, writing, dancing, and directing talents.

Jeannie’s death came on July 4 just as the city’s arts community was reeling from the June death of UCLA graduate film student Kendra Perez, a talented actress who had graced the stages as an Alexander High School UIL one act play thespian. She also acted for LITE productions, Laredo Little Theater, and the Laredo Theater Guild International.    On July 6 came the death of Victor Francisco Osorio Jr., Cigarroa High School and Vidal M. Trevino Magnet school theater student who had carved out his niche as the personality known as DJ Heavy. He was especially close to Bob Batey from their days at VMT and in the music scene.

Most of the world learned of Robert’s July 9 passing when his life partner and wife Julia Orduña posted on Facebook. “Everyone who met Bob Batey could tell you one thing. The man was on fire. He used his talents, knowledge, and heart to bring Laredo things they never thought possible. His drive pushed the music scene out of the woodwork and back to the forefront. His charisma entranced people to be in his presence. His constant pursuit of art was profound and impacted everyone. My love, you will not only be missed, but remembered for a long time… I love you.”

Batey was truly a transcendent figure on the local arts scene. At the root of his cause was that Laredoans did not need to look elsewhere for talent in any of the arts. Because of his support of local artists, he was a font of knowledge of where to find collaborators in the visual arts, the written arts, video and sound production, and the poetic scene. He was constantly inviting artists to join his vision of La Frontera Galactica.

He recognized the glorious mix unique to Laredo’s border culture. He was a musical voyager playing with Santo Vicio, La Mata, the Real Man and other bands, taking turns as a virtuoso guitarist while talented enough to move to keyboards and drums. His simple self-deprecating plea was to not ask him to sing. His signature red guitar was adorned with I Heart Laredo, Sledge TV, and Laredo Border Slam stickers. His rants and Slam Poetry were legendary, explaining to eager audiences that they were part of this Laredo artistic renaissance. He told us, “It is about time you realize that though you may be a drop in the ocean the fact remains we are all a beautiful and magnificent ocean.”

Batey’s 2017 February birthday bash captured his essence. The invitation spoke of a jam session at Gallery 201 where guests were welcome to dress in the fashion of a musical style. Batey set up a drum kit and amps and a couple of microphones and his guests plugged in and joined the revelry. He gleefully went from guitar to keyboard to drums, soaking in the creative aura prompted by a celebratory jam session. Some sang, others recited poetry, but the atmosphere was pure Bob.

The last time he performed his poetry was on June 25 at the Southwest Shootout Border Cypher at Tres Laredos Park on the banks of the Río Grande. It was no surprise that Batey chose his favorite poem “On The Streets of Laredo” to perform this sunny morning. It was his Howl. Years before Batey portrayed Allen Ginsberg in LITE production’s homage to Ginsberg in Beat; A Play On Words. As he stood with his back to the Laredo International Bridge in the background, the strains of a live cumbia band filled the air. It was Batey’s affirmation that all was right in La Frontera Galactica.

Fortunately for the world, his great collaborators at Sledge TV Rudy Murillo Jr. and Victor Mendoza Jr. captured his performance. It was played at his memorial at Laredo Border Slam a few days later to an awed gathering of grieving friends and fans.

As news of his death spread, there was a clamor from the artistic community to pay homage to Batey. On social media there was a flood of heartfelt postings of videos, photographs, and tributes that reflected his gentle personality and his ability to make everyone feel special and appreciated. Family, childhood friends, local musicians, poets, the theater community, and many others told tales of the engaging Batey.

Laredo Border Slam and Gayle Aker Rodriguez, the proprietor of Gallery 201, with the help of the City of Laredo succeeded in receiving a last minute permit to close the one block of San Bernardo Avenue where Batey’s memorial was held. Rodriguez, Orduña, and Laredo Border Slam were correct to assume that the event would overflow into the streets of Laredo.

One after another, poets and family and friends remembered Batey. Tricia Cortez, who had belted out an impromptu ranchera to pay tribute to Jeannie Lopez a few days earlier at Jeannie’s post-funeral gathering at Laredo Little Theater, performed a slam poem interwoven with verses from “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” A rapt audience held on to her every word.

At midnight the crowd lit candles and with police escort walked to On The Rocks Tavern where Batey’s former band mates from the La Mata, Santo Vicio, and the Real Man paid their musical respects. There wasn’t enough time for everyone to perform on stage, so former band mate Mike Ruiz played his guitar and sang a Batey tune on a street in Laredo.

The next night hundreds of stunned and teary-eyed mourners filed in for hours to pay final respects to the Batey, Orduña, Paz, Cobos, and Chavarria families. The steady and diverse flow of persons giving their condolences were testament to his impact.   Many of the mourners had just been to the services for Perez, Osorio, and Lopez.

Lopez and Batey, though seemingly different, were united in their love for the artistic gem that is Laredo. They spoke of their love for this city’s arts scene and were unabashed in their goal to eradicate the often-repeated complaint that “there is nothing to do in Laredo.”

One photograph at the López services captured another more poignant celestial connection. It was a photograph of Jeannie with her Martin High and Laredo Little Theater assistant director Andrea Cobos Batey. Andy Batey’s sudden and untimely death when Robert was eight years old had left painful voids in the lives of Jeannie and Robert.

In the torrid heat of Laredo’s canicula the photograph gave those who loved them hope that there was peace and celebration beyond La Frontera Galactica.