Dr. Robert Wilson Ballard

DR. ROBERT W. BALLARD
Dr. Robert Wilson Ballard passed at age 94 after an extraordinary, rewarding life career in Medicine. Born in Trenton, NJ in 1922; he graduated from Trenton High in 1940. He was an enthusiastic member of the Cross Country & Track teams for 3 years including his senior year when Trenton High won the State Championship.

Bob attended Cornell University from 1940-43 as a member of the Class of 1944. While at Cornell he was a member of the Track Team, Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity & Sphinx Head Society. He was accepted at New York Medical College at the end if his Junior Year and entered the Army in the summer of 1943. After basic training he was assigned to Fort Jay on Governor's Island in New York City where he trained to be an X Ray Technician. In January 1944 he was sent by the Army to New York Medical College. He completed Medical School under the GI Bill. Dr. Ballard interned at Moses Taylor Hospital followed by a General Practice Residency at West Side Hospital in Scranton, PA.
Dr. Ballard's first private Family Practice was in Nelsonville, OH 1949-50. He returned to active military duty in the Korean War in the Air Force as acting Flight Surgeon for the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Wing, spending 9 months at Hunter AFB in Savannah, GA, caring for military families. He received an Atomic Energy Commission Fellowship spending 6 months at Duke University and 3 months at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After this training he was assigned to the Air Research & Development Command. While there Dr. Ballard established and monitored numerous radiation and biological studies at several universities and government radiation labs. In 1953 he was honorably discharged as an Air Force Captain.

Dr. Ballard returned to his Family Practice in Nelsonville, OH. In 1955 he moved to a group practice in Baldwinsville, NY. In 1959 he left Family Practice and spent 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry. During this time he was instrumental in developing several major new drugs and published several important medical papers. Dr. Ballard is an Emeritus member of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

In 1969 Dr. Ballard returned to Family Practice in Wappingers Falls and Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County, NY. He was a member of the AMA, New York State Medical Society and served as President of the Dutchess County Medical Society in 1975-76. He was active in the community affairs as a member of the Dutchess County Mental Hygiene Board. He was also on the Board of Directors and President of the Dutchess County Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Dr. Ballard returned to Ithaca with his family in August 1985 as Medical Director of Ithaca College's Hammond Health Center. He enjoyed caring for the students and working with the staff. He was a strong supporter of the IC Football Program. He was able to reconnect with classmates from the Cornell Class of 1944 at Homecoming Football Weekends and June Class Reunions including his 70th Reunion in 2014. During retirement he enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends. He continued to stay in shape walking and swimming laps. In 1995 he joined City Club of Ithaca serving as President in 2002 and continued to enjoy their fellowship until 2014.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Renata Crisi Ballard and their daughter Christina Ballard (John Lambing) of Madison, WI and son Marshall Ballard (Susi Aquirre Ballard) of Santa Cruz, CA. He is also survived by two daughters from a previous marriage: Barbara Cumming of Hinkley, OH and Reverend Sharon Gracen (Peter Schuller) of Branford, CT as well as 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.


The family extends their deep appreciation to the staff at Old Hundred & Hospicare for their comfort, compassion and loving care for "Dr. Bob". In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Hospicare of Tompkins County, Ithaca College Football program or Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Bangs Funeral Home is assisting the family.