Joseph M. Ballo

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Columbia University Manhattan College

Joseph Ballo Obituary

JOSEPH MICHAEL BALLO, M.D. (Age 71)
Of Leesburg, died on January 5, 2012 in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Ballo was born on November 17, 1940 in the Bronx, NY. He was a son of the late Joseph B. Ballo and the late Gertrude Monahan. Raised in NY, he received his B.S. from Manhattan College, and his M.D. from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. He completed his residency in pathology at the Mallory Institute of Pathology in Boston, MA. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He left the service in 1972 to work as an associate medical examiner in the Westchester County N.Y. Medical Examiner's office. He returned to the U.S. Army where he served at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology for 5 years, becoming chief of the Missile Trauma Pathology Branch. He attained the rank of Lt. Colonel. In 1976 he settled in Loudoun County and in 1979 became a staff Pathologist at Loudoun Memorial Hospital, where he worked until 1989. He left to open a private forensic pathology consulting practice. He retired in 2004 due to his health. A talented pianist, Dr. Ballo was a founding member of the Phi Mu Alpha (national fraternal society in music) chapter at Manhattan College. He worked to get the DC Area Alumni Association chapter of Phi Mu Alpha started, and served as Vice President from 1999 -2001. His other interests included gourmet cooking, antiques, wine making and traveling to countless horse shows in support of his daughters' equine activities. He also was an early and enthusiastic adopter of Macintosh personal computers. Dr. Ballo leaves to cherish his memory his two daughters, Rebeccah Marie Ballo of Alexandria, VA, and Sophie Irene Ballo of Morgan Hill, CA; granddaughter, Penelope Ali; his brother Peter Ballo of New Rochelle, NY; and his former wife Dr. Amy Tankoos of Richmond, VA.A memorial visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg, VA. Graveside services will be held privately in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sinfonia Educational Foundation, or to the Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue.Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com

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Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 10, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Ballo

5 Entries

Florence Marie Mercurio Riggs

January 22, 2021

I have no idea who will ever read what I write about my friend, Joe Ballo since it's so many years after he made his Transition, and I just found this Memorial page. Our colllege choirs were combined for a big concert. Joe's was from Manhattan College, an all men Catholic college, and mine was a small Catholic liberal arts college, Caldwell College for Women. We became friends when we performed at that concert in 1961 or '62. Joe was incredibly intelligent and a brilliant man who loved music and loved my voice! I was the soloist and leading soprano of my school, and Joe was a talented musician. After graduation and going on to medical school, he was at Columbia doing cadaver studies. He phoned me to ask if I'd like to see actual vocal cords. I said yes, and met him at Columbia and he escorted me through the cadaver room to see his "project". I didn't realize how squeemish I would be once I arrived there and had to walk past a number of cadavers! All I could do instead of looking at his cadaver that he had so patiently prepared especially for me, was to focus on a skeleton hanging in the corner. At least I didn't faint or lose my dinner! I'm sure he must have been disappointed but he was such a polite gentleman. Decades later, I can appreciate his endeavor, after having been a singer and vocal technique teacher for over 50 years now. Joe also helped me write a term paper, after I told him that it was a comparison of an almost identical musical phrase copied in honor of Giacomo Puccini from the 2nd act duet with Rodolfo and Marcello in La Boheme, and the 2nd act query of Baba to Toby in Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, The Medium . I most likely might have received a lower grade on that paper had Joseph Ballo not suggested so much of it! God bless you, dear Joe. I suddenly miss you, even though I haven't been in touch with you for many decades. Rest in Peace, and keep on doing your brilliant work in the Hereafter/Other Side/Heaven! You are loved and appreciated! Florence Mercurio Riggs (formerly of Bloomfield, N.J., now of Sherman Oaks, CA. (Photo below is with my beautiful daughter, Ariel Noël Riggs)

Stephanie Walker

January 12, 2012

Dear Rebeccah,
Your father seemed like a fascinating, incredible man. I wish I was able to make it down there for the memorial service, but I will be there in spirit. I wish much peace and strength to you and your sister, mother, and other family.
I am so very sorry.
Much love,
Stephanie

Hank Balfour

January 10, 2012

As a P&S classmate, I remember Joe very well. I admired his exceptional musical talent and warm engaging personality. We talked often during those tough early years of medical school. I am sad to learn of Joe's passing. My deepest sympathy to all of his family and friends.

Hank Balfour, P&S 1966

Rod Paine

January 10, 2012

Sorry to hear that Joe has passed on, as I had lost track of him. Myself and a number of other early adopters of the Apple Macintosh, will always remember our many conversations with Joe about using the Macintosh, what software was best for various tasks, what tricks had we discovered to help improve the Mac's speed, data capacity and a great many other subjects, that the Mac was now a part of. Thank you, Joe, for your thoughts and ideas in those early days. I hope you now get to meet Steve Jobs and ask about those things we never quite figured out. I hope this is where you have gone, where all will be made known to you.

fjohn reinke (mc1968)

January 10, 2012

The Manhattan College alumni community shares the grief, and is now praying for our fellow alumni and the family at this time. The Alumni Office has been informed. As well as the Jasper Jottings community that I personally can reach. We are all a little poorer now. "No man is an island, entire of itself ... any man's death diminishes me". We are sorry for your loss.

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