Arthur F. Ballant, Jr.

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, Arthur Frank Ballant, Jr., beloved husband of the late Colleen Ballant and passed away. The only son of Marie Theresa Ballant and Arthur Frank Ballant, Sr. of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Mr. Ballant graduated from St. Joseph's Boys High School, with top honors in Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, History, Christian Doctrine, and General Excellence, earning a full academic scholarship to the University of Maryland. There he earned a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences with high honors, with a major in Economics and Chemistry, was Phi Kappa Phi, part of the bridge club, and an avid Terrapins fan.

Mr. Ballant later went to Rutgers University Extension Division earning a certificate of achievement in Economics. After working at McGraw Hill publishers in New York City, he moved to Maryland, became certified in investment practice and joined Cigna (later becoming Sagemark Consulting and currently Lincoln Financial Advisors) in 1982 as a financial planner, where he would stay for 30 years amassing a client base of over 400 people, including individuals, families, small businesses, and local churches and organizations, many of whom he knew and served for more than 20 years. In 1988, he became certified in tax preparation and in 1996, had his own tax practice, The Cape Hill Company. He loved what he did, and never planned to retire.

He co-authored a book, The Professional Mascot Handbook, in 1982, with Karen Ahearn and an introduction by Rocky Bleier. It was through research of the book that he met his wife, Colleen Palmer, whom he would be married to for 30 years and have a daughter, Lindsay Ballant. They lived in Carroll County, Maryland, first in Finksburg and then in Hampstead. In Hampstead he became a member of Greenmount United Methodist Church, joining the community where he sang in the choir.

Mr. Ballant was a consummate lover of the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Maryland Terrapins, the Florida Gators, murder mystery novels and Perry Mason, old movies, doo-wop and oldies music. A kind, selfless, quiet and humble man, he cared very much for the well-being of animals, cats in particular.

He is survived by his daughter, Lindsay Helene Ballant, his mother-in-law, Helena Kasak, sisters-in-law Victoria Palmer, LouAnn Palmer, brother-in-law Walter Kasak, aunt, Anne Sparrow, cousin Anita Sparrow, loving family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, 7250 Washington Blvd., Elkridge, MD on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 from 4:00-8:00 pm. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Greenmount United Methodist Church, 2001 Hanover Pike, Hampstead, MD, followed by a reception at Greenmount Station Restaurant, 1631 N. Main St, Hampstead, MD. Internment will be held at a later date.

Contributions may be made in his memory to Greenmount United Methodist Church, and Metro Ferals Cat Rescue.