Carol Ann Balassa

04/15/1938 - 05/26/2025

Carol Balassa, born April 15, 1938, in Queens, New York, died on May 26, 2025, at age 87, in her hometown of Washington, DC. She had just returned from a weekend reunion with her children, grandchildren, sister, and nephews, in New York.
Carol was a lifelong student, beginning with high school in Jamaica, Queens, followed by a BA from Queens College, and a master's degree from Yale University in international relations. At Yale, Carol met Bela Balassa; they married in 1960 and moved to Washington, DC in 1966. Carol then earned a doctorate in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. Beginning in 1980, Carol enjoyed a diverse career in the Office of the United States Trade Representative, where she led numerous trade negotiations, focusing on services issues, including motion pictures and telecommunications. After her retirement in 2007, Carol became a senior fellow at Vanderbilt University's Curb Center.
A small town in France was dear to Carol's heart. In the summer of 1956, she participated in a student-exchange program in the town of Irigny, outside Lyon. For the rest of her life, Carol returned to Irigny as often as possible, including with Bela and then with their children and, ultimately, grandchildren, drawn by the deep friendships she established there. Carol also loved tennis, playing whenever weather permitted, and was a lifelong swimmer, swimming her laps daily – in Washington and in Irigny – if tennis was not an option.
After walking to work in D.C. for nearly 30 years, one of Carol's greatest post-retirement pleasures was photography, particularly shooting street scenes. Carol could be seen combing Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle with camera in hand, looking and waiting for a shot-worthy scene to unfold. Her photographs were selected for multiple shows, including most recently for the 2025 Biennial Exhibition at the Cosmos Club, of which she was a devoted member. Given Carol's love for learning, she enrolled post-retirement in photography classes, audited courses at Georgetown University, attended Torah study at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, volunteered as a tutor in the D.C. public schools, participated in multiple book clubs, and regularly attended lectures and cultural events. Her absence will be felt across all those venues.
Carol is survived by her children Mara (Peter) Soutiere and Gabor (Sarah) Balassa, sister Susan Shaw, and grandchildren Ian and Muriel Soutiere, and Alena and Alek Balassa. A celebration of life service will be held this summer, on a date to be determined.