Obituary: Harry Balz, Jr., 80

Harry H. Balz, Jr. 80 formerly of Rockville Centre, died on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He was 80.

Born Dec. 6, 1933 in Brooklyn, he was the son of Harry H. and Viola (Devlin) Balz.

Balz was a retired civil engineer dealing mainly with heavy construction. After his retirement and moving to the North Country with his wife, Elaine, he used his expertise to serve his community. He was clerk of the works for the building of the Chestertown Fire House, Town of Horicon Town Garage, facilities consultant for the North Warren School District and a board member of the Washington, Saratoga, Warren, Hamilton, Essex BOCES and project manager for the Veterans Memorial Park in Chestertown.

Balz was a member of the Rockville Centre Fire Dept for more than 63 years and served as Chief. He was also an associate member of the Chestertown Fire Department. He was a long time member of FASNY and member of the New York State Fire Chief’s Association.

He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grand father. He left an imprint on everyone he knew.

He is survived by wife of 53 years Elaine (Early) Balz, of Adirondack, whom he married on April 29, 1961; one son, Kenneth Devlin and his wife Milena, of Rockville Centre; two daughters, Carol Cali and her husband Anthony, of Westminster, S.C., and Nancy Whitcomb and her husband Arnold, of Latham; and his five grandchildren, Danielle Palmer and her husband Gavin of Watervliet, Michael Whitcomb of Latham, Matthew Whitcomb of Latham, Andrew Devlin of Rockville Centre, and Melanie Devlin of Rockville Centre; and one great-granddaughter, Ashlynn Palmer.

Memorials in Balz’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Rd, Albany, NY 12205.