We have just learned the heart-wrenching and shocking news of the passing of Hamlet Batista.
Batista was the CEO and founder of RankSense.
He has been a VIP Contributor here on Search Engine Journal since 2019 and was also published on many other publications, including Search Engine Land, Search Engine Watch, and Entrepreneur.
He has also spoken at many industry conferences over the past few years, including Pubcon, SMX, and SEJ eSummit.
William Galán shared the news on Twitter just a few hours ago about the passing of his boss.
My boss, a great man, a teacher, a great coder, a father and a entrepreneur, rest in peace @hamletbatista may god bless your soul and your family https://t.co/SBEsUXykf2
— William Galán (@WilliamGalanS) January 27, 2021
Batista was known for being an expert in Python, automation and SEO, an innovator, and a teacher.
But above all else, he was a husband, who just celebrated 21 years of marriage, and a father.
We will continue to add to this story as more details become available.
Lily Ray is organizing a fundraiser for his family. If you are able to, you can donate here.
Lily has also written a beautiful tribute for her friend.
A Message from Maura Loew and the RankSense Team
Maura Loew, operations manager, RankSense, shared the following message with the RankSense community:
“It is with immeasurable grief that we share that our founder and CEO, Hamlet Batista, has passed away.
Hamlet was an incredibly gifted individual. A U.S. Genius visa holder, he migrated from the Dominican Republic and co-invented Altruik’s Page Priority, an enterprise-level SEO software product that pioneered automated resolution of site architecture issues. Later he founded RankSense, our agile SEO platform that accelerates the typical SEO process. He was a visionary thought leader and inventor; a renowned SEO expert; a respected speaker; an author; an entrepreneur. More importantly, he was a thoughtful, patient and warm leader who put together an extraordinary team that will remain dedicated to driving his vision for better enabled, better connected customer platforms that link products, companies and cultures.
No words can express our sorrow over Hamlet’s passing, or our gratitude for having walked with him. We’ve lost a humble, generous, brilliant soul, a mentor and a friend, but his legacy of service and excellence lives on in our team, in our dedication to you as our customers and as part of the tech and SEO ecosystem that he loved so much.
Let’s remember his light and keep his family and loved ones in our hearts as we navigate these difficult days.”
Reaction from the Search Industry
Our community was shocked and saddened upon learning about Batista’s passing.
Generous. Smart. Nice. Beloved. Humble. A giant.
These are just a few of the words used by the SEO community to describe Hamlet on Twitter, after learning of his passing.
Mi hermano. I prayed all day and night for 20 days but I guess it wasn’t enough. There is nothing short and sweet that I can say, because I could write entire books about you. I love you more than anything @hamletbatista. I will never forget you as long as I live. pic.twitter.com/6mIr1Khign
— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) January 28, 2021
Today is one of saddest day for our industry.@hamletbatista left us. He was a strong good person, who I was lucky enough to know IRL.
My thought cannot but go to his family and his dearest friends.
Nos veremos para hablar de Python juntos a los angeles .— Gianluca Fiorelli wears a 😷. Be like Gianluca (@gfiorelli1) January 28, 2021
Truly one of the nicest and most sincere people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. And one of those SEO guys so smart you always left with a bit of a headache from trying to keep up. So sad… RIP
— GregBoser (@GregBoser) January 28, 2021
This is devastating news. Kind, thoughtful, wonderful mind, innovative, disruptive genius. A favourite SEO. RIP https://t.co/x7P9isvRuh
— Dawn Anderson (@dawnieando) January 28, 2021
We will miss you @hamletbatista … thank you so much for you ever present generosity, kindness, and constant encouragement.
— Jake Bohall (@jakebohall) January 28, 2021
Crushed by the news of @hamletbatista’s passing. The world lost an incredible human today who will be missed very much.
— Jesse McDonald (@jesseseogeek) January 28, 2021
😢 I'm so lucky to have had the chance to collaborate with @hamletbatista. He did so much to elevate others and the SEO industry. https://t.co/zKVJd4a1xd
— Danielle (@d4ni_s) January 28, 2021
I’m so sad to hear this news. Hamlet was so kind, smart and generous. In person, he glowed.
My deepest condolences to you, his family and those who knew him best.— Ginny Marvin (@GinnyMarvin) January 28, 2021
Awful news. Hamlet was always so kind to us, and contributed such wonderful work to the field. Please, if you have details to share about a memorial or charities he'd want to see supported, do let us know.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) January 28, 2021
I really don't know what to say right now. @hamletbatista did so much for the SEO and Digital Marketing industry. Had the pleasure of meeting him at #TechSEOBoost. Such a genuine, smart, and giving soul. He will be incredibly missed. Much love to his family. ♥️ https://t.co/6tot6Zy7hs
— Matt Nguyen (@NugeKnows) January 28, 2021
He was generosity personified and the type of person that made you feel proud to work in the SEO industry.
Will miss him :*(— Lucas Ng (@lucasng) January 28, 2021
What an honor I had to hang out with @hamletbatista at several industry events. Treated me like he knew me for years even though we only spoke a few times. I still remember how he blew my mind at the Bing launch party—he was always several moves ahead of the industry. RIP dude.
— Jason Murphy (@MurphyJason) January 28, 2021
Shocked and heartbroken by the tragic loss of one of #SEO 's greatest experts & people @hamletbatista I'm in tears as I write this💔 he has been, still is, such an inspiration & source of encouragement for me. Decades in the business, always humble😢 RIPhttps://t.co/dIe6bzDowu https://t.co/ZULDuZKyvb pic.twitter.com/t3e7rAa0w7
— Orit Mutznik🐍💔 (@OritSiMu) January 28, 2021
Sad day for the SEO community. RIP @hamletbatista
He was extremely kind. We first met at a conference and he helped me through a problem I was working on. Even though he barely knew me, he went out of his way months later to send an email to ask how it went.— Andrew Coco SEO (@AyyyCoco) January 28, 2021
😔 Since meeting @hamletbatista in the early WMW days, I’d been impressed by his generousity & genuine interest in helping me. We recently talked Python, and I admired his commitment to sharing that with our industry. My thoughts are with you and his family, @WilliamGalanS 🙏
— Eric Lander (@ericlanderseo) January 28, 2021
Well now that everyone is learning of it, I can say something. Hamlet. Oh, Hamlet – good, caring, giving Hamlet. This pandemic is very bad. And unfortunately, our community is not immune. You were a shining star on earth. And now your time has come to go back to the heavens.
— Alan Bleiweiss | Recently Freed Member of ANTIFA (@AlanBleiweiss) January 28, 2021
The world lost a wonderful man today. One who carried a smile as easily as he did a kind word. Hamlet was always a friendly face I looked for at industry events. He was so kind and giving of his genius. Prayers and love to his family and friends.
— Stephan Bajaio (@stephanbajaio) January 28, 2021
I’m absolutely distraught at the loss of @hamletbatista. He was truly a gift to our industry and everyone that knew him. One of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Very few have contributed as much as he had to our industry. RIP brother!
— John McAlpin (@seocounseling) January 28, 2021
In 2018, I spoke at TechSEOBoost in Boston. The night before the conference, we had a get together with just the speakers.
I remember walking to the bar to get a drink. Next to me stood a guy, already a drink in his hand, who started talking to me about entities.
— Kevin_Indig (@Kevin_Indig) January 28, 2021
We'll miss you, @hamletbatista . Thank you for sharing your love of 🐍 with us, and for helping us to become better, smarter, and more curious. May your humble & kind spirit continue to influence the world of SEO — and beyond. https://t.co/JJC4pd1dPA
— 🍌 John 🍌 (@JohnMu) January 28, 2021
I’m devastated.@hamletbatista was the most genuine, kindest human I've ever known.
An inspiration to me & many, he made ppl realise they were capable of so much more than what they thought they could.
I feel blessed I got to be his friend.
RIP Amigo. I will never forget you. pic.twitter.com/TeOLbcVKgG
— Charly Wargnier (@DataChaz) January 28, 2021
He was a champion of the industry, quick to promote others, unwaveringly positive, smart, and humble@hamletbatista (almost) single-handedly brought Python to the SEO community by sheer force of will
We owe him a debt of gratitude. You were loved, and you will be missed brother https://t.co/ueIy0YVaD1
— Cyrus (@CyrusShepard) January 28, 2021
Devastated by the loss of @hamletbatista. We first met in BrightonSEO'19. I went up to him to tell him that I closely follow his brilliant work but before I could say anything, he said "Areej, you're here! We must take a picture together" Sending prayers and love, rest in peace💙 pic.twitter.com/geiw821rCr
— Areej AbuAli (@areej_abuali) January 28, 2021
Will miss you friend @hamletbatista #rip pic.twitter.com/aWhOgcmIdo
— Eric Wu ❤️ 🍯 (@eywu) January 28, 2021
This is so incredibly sad. Goodbye to the wonderful @hamletbatista: Always kind, selfless, fun, funny, incredibly smart and beautiful human. You gave us all so much and inspired so many. Thank you for everything, you’ll be so missed. Never forgotten. Adiós querido amigo, DEP 🙁 pic.twitter.com/4YLzZj0Fkb
— Aleyda Solis 👩🏻💻 (@aleyda) January 28, 2021
