Photo courtesy of George L Doherty Funeral Service, Inc - Somerville
Sep 24, 1965 - Mar 2, 2024
Barb, I just learned of Dave's passing today! I am so very sorry to hear this news. I wish I could have been there to hug you and Wendy in person. Please let me know if there's anything you need or if there's anything at all that I can do for you. I will certainly send prayers for your and his family during this difficult time.
Love to all,
Anne
Anne Campbell
March 15, 2024 | Medford, MA | Friend
Dave was a valued part of the Mass Eye and Ear team for many years. His contributions will not be forgotten and he will surely be missed. Sincere condolences to Dave's loved ones.
Jordana Harrison
March 13, 2024 | Coworker
Dave Balkwill Michael David Robert Balkwill, of Randolph, MA and originally of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2024. He was born on September 24, 1965 to Darlene McCuaig Balkwill and the late Robert John Balkwill. Dave graduated, with honours, from Gloucester High School, Ottawa, University of Waterloo with a Bachelor’s in Math & Computer Science, culminating his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautic Engineering. Directly after his graduation from MIT, he accepted a position at the Jenks Vestibular Lab at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston as a Biomedical Engineer, which he held for 30 years. Anyone who knew Dave can attest to his wicked sense of humour, his penchant for puns, scrabble, and Euchre, and his incredible ability to connect with people and the world around him. Dave was absolutely the Ottawa Senators’ biggest fan. We went to games when we were in Ottawa, where his favorite player was Daniel Alfredsson. Also: GO BU!!! He loved to go to the games at Agganis Arena with our friends George & Gina Fishman. He was also obsessed with soccer, his favorite team was Liverpool FC ('You’ll never walk alone'). He watched as many games as he could at home and really enjoyed each and every game. I could tell, I could hear him screaming from the kitchen whenever something wasn’t to his liking during the game! His musical tastes were amazing. Rush, of course, was his best band. We saw them several times in the Boston area when they were on tour. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Healey, and Beth Hart and Dee Carstensen were among the elite musicians that he really loved. Dave is survived by his cherished mother, Darlene McCuaig Balkwill, of Carlsbad Springs, Ontario, with whom he spoke on the phone almost every day. He was the loving brother of Sheila Maloney and her husband Mike, of Nepean, Ontario. Beloved husband of Barb Balkwill for over 30 years. Dear step-father Wendy Gardner-Briendel and her husband, Jonathan of Lakeville, MA. Super duper awesome Uncle to Connor and Cal Maloney of Ottawa, Ontario. Devoted Pawpa to Lillyanna Gardner of Lakeville, MA. Dave was also a dedicated and loving dog dad to Brady, Maggie, and Pancho, and now they’re all together at the Rainbow bridge with all the other dogs in his family during his childhood. In Lieu of flowers, please make a gift in Dave’s name to: Best Friends Sanctuary (Dogtown), bestfriends.org. And Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Patterson, NY
Calling Hours will be held in the George L. Doherty Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 13th from 10:00AM to 11:00AM. Words of remembrances will be held from 11:00AM to 12:00PM.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Interment will be private
Read More
