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The world discovered Batman in 2012, after he was pulled over in Silver Spring, Md., in his Lamborghini and full superhero costume. Video of his encounter with police, who had pulled him over because of a problem with his plates, which feature the Batman symbol, made him an instant sensation on the Web.

The Dark Knight’s encounter with law enforcement began turning up in millions of Facebook news feeds. The episode even made it into a Jimmy Fallon monologue.

Batman, who lived outside of Baltimore, had cleaned up in the cleaning business, making enough money to buy his own Batmobile, a costume that seemed more real than the one in the movies, and toys and memorabilia that he handed out to children with cancer at hospitals all over Maryland and the District.

On one visit to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, he reflected on the health of his own three children. “We’re lucky,” he said.

At Children’s Hospital, there were kids with tubes in their noses, with IVs in their arms. He handed out gifts: Batman books, rubber Batman symbol bracelets and other toys.

Batman made those kids smile. They all thought he was Batman, a hero.

“I’m just doing it for the kids,” he said.

Batman worked closely with Hope for Henry, a D.C. organization that helps sick children. Founded by Laurie Strongin and Allen Goldberg after their son Henry died from a rare disease, the group threw super hero parties in hospitals. Batman was always the star.

“He made so many kids so happy,” Strongin said. “When I asked him to do anything, he always said yes.”

Batman had never met Henry.

“But he called me every year on his birthday,” Strongin said.

Strongin has been crying all morning. The organization had just finished producing a video about the program. It starts with a little boy dressed as Batman. He has leukemia. He’s waiting outside a hospital. The real Batman — Lenny Robinson — pulls up in his Batmobile, gets out and hugs the boy.

“He was magic,” Strongin said.