William James Balchunas, II

James Balchunas, 34, passed away on December 21, 2018, from a tragic accident, a result of struggling for years with addiction. He was born on November 26, 1984, in Pensacola, Florida, to Dr. William Balchunas and Dorothy Upchurch. He attended Scenic Heights Elementary School, Creative Learning Center and Booker T. Washington High School. He graduated from Birmingham Southern College (BSC), Birmingham, Alabama, with a B.A. in psychology.

His first job after graduation was as a management trainee for Marriott in Birmingham, where he worked in most departments. He quickly adopted the Marriott culture of service excellence, making it his own. Ever ambitious, he transitioned to Taziki’s Mediterranean Café whose culture also focused on service excellence. He was known as a strict boss and loved training new employees. He was promoted to General Manager this year at the UAB restaurant on 18th Street in Birmingham, AL. He was eager for it to become the most profitable site in the Taziki system. He recently applied for the MBA program at Troy University.

Besides cooking, he loved college football, rooting for the Miami Hurricanes. He prided himself on being a defensive back on the first football team since 1939 at BSC, until a leg injury permanently sidelined him. He was a loyal member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at BSC.

James had a life-long love of soccer, playing since he was five years old, including all four years of high school. Skilled with speed, he excelled at track and field and cross country in high school. Post-graduation, he was in two running clubs and enjoyed playing in a kickball league immensely, but restricted by ongoing leg and feet injuries.

He is survived by his parents, Dr. William Balchunas and Dorothy Upchurch; sister, Caroline Balchunas; stepmother, Diane DeJean Balchunas; stepfather, Allen Upchurch; stepsister, Lauren Rushing; stepsister, Beth Upchurch; stepbrother, McNeill Upchurch; and step grandmother, Betty Upchurch. In addition to these, he was well loved by a large array of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorial Service will be Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 2;00 pm at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood, Al. A reception will follow the service in the Edgewood Parlor at the funeral home.