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Roderick Balsam Obituary
Roderick Donald Balsam, 89, of Santa Cruz, California passed away on October 16th, 2010 at the home of his son, after being in the kindest care of "Dominican Oaks" assisted living for almost 3 years.
Rod was predeceased by his mother Frances, his father Louis and his brothers Burt and David. He and his wife Eda raised four children: Rebecca, Vivian, Judith and David. Vivian passed away in 2004. Rod is survived by Eda, his three remaining children, his grandchildren Nate, Yaffa, Danny, Josh, Zack, and his sons-in-law Peter and Mike.
Raised in Chicago, Rod grew up in a difficult home environment. Rod served his country during World War II, and went on to become a husband, father and attorney in New York City. He loved animals, nature and geography, and had a gentleness and kindness to him that was evident to those who became close to him. Rod was an intelligent and sensitive person who did his best to show a confident face to the world, but was insecure and challenged by life and relationships.
A gathering of friends and family will be held to remember Rod on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Please contact Rod's son David or leave a message at "Dominican Oaks" [831-462-6257] for more information.
If you wish to make a donation in Rod's memory, please send it to Santa Cruz SPCA, 2685 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95065.
Heartfelt thanks to the caregivers of Florence Kuo Home Care and Hospice of Santa Cruz County, and to Billie, Carmen and Gilberto.
May his soul find peace and be surrounded by love.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Roderick Balsam
4 Entries
Luis Granados
October 26, 2010
Querido David
amigo mis mas profundas condolencias, que el amor de Dios te de las fuerza y la entereza para superar este momento.
un fuerte abrazo
luis
Gilberto Araya
October 21, 2010
Rod always will live in the mind and heart of his family and friends.
I will always remember his sweet smile and his polite Hello! Hello! When I was visiting him in his apartment at Dominican Oaks. I will always remember the moments when we talked about one of his passions: Geography. I will always heard in my mind one of his favorite songs in Spanish: "Colombia la joya del mundo".
Thanks Rod for sharing your time and knowledge with me. You will live in my mind forever until I die.
Gilberto Araya
October 21, 2010
Rod, always will live in the mind and heart of his family and friends.
I will always remember his sweet smile and his polite Hello! Hello! When I was visiting him in his apartment at Dominican Oaks. I will always remember the moments when we talked about one of his passions: Geography. I will always hear in my mind one of his favorite songs in Spanish: "Colombia la joya del mundo".
Thanks Rod for sharing your time and knowledge with me. You will live in my mind forever until I die.
Robert Sivek
October 21, 2010
Uncle Rod you will be missed. David has made sure your memory will live on with me.
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