MICHAEL BALLANTYNE

(1930 - 2025) James Michael Ballantyne died peacefully, on May 22, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, after a brief illness. Michael was born in Montreal on November 9, 1930, to James Ross Ballantyne and Mary (Molly) Elizabeth Ballantyne (née Meigs). In addition to his wife, My-Trang Nguyen, he is survived by four of his five children, David, Bridget (Bill Durrell), Barbara (d. 2015) (Steve McNally), Martha (Richard Rice) and Sarah (Nou Dadoun), whom he shared with their mother, Theresa Ballantyne (née Gahan). He is survived by seven grandchildren, James Durrell, Emma and Timothy McNally, Madeleine and William Ballantyne-Rice, Benjamin and Calder Dadoun. Also in mourning are his beloved extended Nguyen family. Michael was predeceased by sister, Linda; half-siblings, Marion and William; and stepmother, Hazel Ballantyne (née Shaughnessy). Michael worked at the Montreal Star as a journalist, editorial writer, reviewer of books, visual art and, to the delight of his then young children, restaurants. He later worked as book and magazine editor at Reader's Digest and in retirement edited manuscripts and did translation work. Encouraged throughout his life by his Catholic faith, his love of literature and poetry, music - notably baroque and jazz - food, travel and especially by his love of family. His understated but obvious intellect was accompanied by a wry sense of humour, capable of delivering the "corniest knock-knock jokes that were real groaners," says an admirer. Of his friendships, one especially dear to him was that with Eric de Bellaigue, who he first met at McGill University in the 1950s, and with whom he shared a lifelong correspondence. His family would like to express special thanks to the CLSC Metro and the Jewish General Hospital for their care and support. A Funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord, 375 Kitchener Avenue, Westmount, on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 10 a.m.