James Alan Ball

James Alan Ball, 75, of Boca Raton, Florida, has left this Earth and ascended into Heaven with our Lord Father on Saturday, June 21, 2025. For 27 years, he battled the disease of prostate cancer, for which he has described as chapters in his life, but his epilogue will read how his journey ended peacefully at home with his family. James was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts during the summer month of July 1949 to Mr. Charles Ball, Jr and Louise Ball. He was raised in New England, where he graduated from Barlett High School in Webster, Massachusetts in 1967. Later that Fall, he met coed Elizabeth Pina from Danbury, Connecticut on the campus of Southern Connecticut State College. James was a 4-year letterman for the Owls NCAA college Division Gymnastics team, led by the famed Olympic coach Abie Grossfeld. After 4 years of collegiate studies and competition, he graduated in 1971 with a Bachelors of Science in Health & Physical Education. That summer after graduation in 1971, he married Elizabeth, and they proceeded to travel cross-country to Los Angeles, California to pursue a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy, which he received in 1973. Once again, a cross-country trip resulted in relocation to Boca Raton, Florida, where his first physical therapy appointment was at Boca Raton Community Hospital. James subsequently spent the next 44 years involved in physical therapy and rehabilitation throughout South Florida. He was President of the Florida Physical Therapy Association 1991 - 1995, and later served as a Board of Director for the American Physical Therapy Association. From 1998, until his retirement in 2017, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Catholic Health Services. For over 50 years, James and Elizabeth have remained active Parrishoners of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton. James was actively involved with the sports and recreation of his two sons, Adam and Michael, coaching youth league soccer and fishing near-shore and off-shore the seas of Boca Raton, Florida Keys and Abaco, Bahamas. He will always be remembered by fellow fishermen and friends as “The Happy Fisherman”. James was also an avid runner throughout his life, having participated in numerous marathons, including the 29th Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC in 2004. James was also a world traveler, having visited 6 continents, including Antarctica in 2022 (missing Australia due to COVID pandemic). During his last two decades, he and Elizabeth enjoyed their role as grandparents to Caroline and Ethan, watching them compete in high school athletics and journey through college life.

James was preceded in death by his father, Charles Ball, Jr and his mother, Louise Ball. He is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Elizabeth P. Ball, of Boca Raton, Florida. He is also survived by his son Adam James Ball, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, with his wife Cristina Ramirez-Ball and two grandchildren, Caroline Sofia Ball and Ethan James Ball. He is also survived by his son Michael Edward Ball, of Miami, Florida, with partner Darcie Masson. James is also survived by an extend family including brother Richard Ball and Ngarm Ball of San Antonio, Texas; sister Kathy Ball of Ft. Myers, Florida; brother Charley Ball III of Sanibel Island, Florida; brother Frank Ball and Lori Ball of Millis, Massachusetts; and sister Mary and her husband Gary Geiger of Agawam, Massachusetts. He was also loved and survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing service is planned for Thursday, June 26th at Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home of Boca Raton 4-8 pm. A Catholic Funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 27th at St. Joan of Arc Church at 11 am. A celebration of life will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Urology Care Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research at:

www.urologyhealth.org/donation-form