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John Ballem

Publishing is a family affair and so when I got an email from John Ballem’s assistant Donna this morning I thought it was to let me know that John was taking off on another trip or had written another article.

Sadly, it was to notify us that John had passed away on January 9, 2010.

Authors come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments but John was a gentle man a well as a gentleman. Over the years he told me about his Dad, a country Doctor in the Maritimes; how he fell in love with flying and became a pilot; and many wonderful stories about his travels.

John was an outstanding lawyer with a reputation in the oil patch of Alberta. He had a very happy long-time marriage to Grace and spoke lovingly of his children and grandchildren. Although John wrote mysteries for Dundurn I tried to encourage him to write his memoirs. I am sorry I didn’t succeed.

I will miss him.

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