Lee Battaglia

Elio “Lee” Battaglia, 97, a renowned photojournalist and educator, died Aug. 8, 2026, peacefully.

Born in Italy, he immigrated to the United States after World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea, where he earned the Bronze Star for valor. During his military service, Battaglia met Life magazine photographer David Douglas, who inspired Battaglia’s lifelong passion for photography.

Following his Army service, he worked as a freelance photographer in Italy before enrolling at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. There he studied photojournalism under Cliff Edom, earned two degrees and worked for MU Publications.

Battaglia’s book, The Face of Missouri, published by the University of Missouri Press, stands as a visual record of the Show-Me State and its people. He believed “photography should change as a language changes,” and in 2012, he was inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame.

He is survived by three children, Rebecca, Jessica and Brian; five grandchildren; and many more family and friends all around the world.