A. Winthrop ‘Win’ Ballard

Active Town Resident

Was Former

Superintendent,

Legislative Council Member

A. Winthrop “Win” Ballard, 89, retired assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools for the Newtown Public School System, died January 23 in Danbury Hospital after a long illness. Mr Ballard was the husband of Gertrude (Kavanaugh) Ballard.

He was born in Stamford March 14, 1917, a son of Allen E. and Evelyn H. (Thayer) Ballard. Mr Ballard was a graduate of New Britain Teachers College (now Central Connecticut State University) and received a master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. During World War II he served in the US Navy as an aviation engineer instructor in Nebraska.

Mr Ballard began his career in education following the war. He operated a driving school in Manchester, and was an industrial arts teacher in East Hartford. He served as vice principal of Bloomfield High School and principal of Clinton High School in Clinton. Mr Ballard was founder of the Westbrook School for exceptional children. He came to Newtown in 1965, serving as assistant superintendent of schools and served during the 1970s and early 1980s as interim superintendent of schools.

Mr Ballard and his wife were founding members of the Baptist Church of Manchester. He designed the church building and, using his love of woodworking, created a three-story cross that stands in front of that church.

He was a member of the Newtown Congregational Church and served as chairman of the New Church Building Committee. The cross that hangs over the altar of the Newtown Congregational Church was designed and built by Mr Ballard of wood from the east and west coasts of the United States.

He was a longtime member and past president of the Newtown Lions Club, also serving at times as the club secretary, membership chairman, nominating committee chair, and newsletter editor. He was awarded the club’s highest Lions’ award in 2001, the Melvin Jones Plaque, for his outstanding work for the local Lions Club. He was a fellow of the Lions Club International Foundation. Mr Ballard also received the Lions’ state title, Knight of the Blind.

Fellow Lions Club and Newtown Congregational Church member Gordon Williams recalled Mr Ballard, saying, “Win was a terrific individual. I enjoyed knowing him. He was amazingly diligent on the building committee for the church, as well as in his service to the Lions Club. The best thing about Win was his ‘zip.’ He had a lot of spirit and he was fun to be around. He had a great sense of humor.”

Mr Ballard served on the Newtown Legislative Council for four terms from 1990 to 1997, sitting as the council vice chairman his final year. He was a member and chairman of the Newtown Economic Development Commission, and served briefly on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mr Ballard was a charter member of the Newtown Exchange Club and a member of the Fairfield Hills Advisory committee from 1999 to 2000.

“We are very saddened to learn of his passing,” said Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal. “He was a great guy. We were always happy to see him in the selectman’s office; he brightened the day. Mr Ballard always was someone who gave a lot to the town. The town has lost a good citizen.”

Mr Ballard was also a member of Hiram Lodge #18 AF and AM, and a member of the Shriners Pyramid #9 in Milford.

He was a member of the Rocking Roosters Square Dance Club.

In addition to his wife, Mr Ballard is survived by his children, Jacqueline Yeatman of Falls Church, Va., Patricia Edgar of Bluffton, S.C., Gary Ballard of Southbury, Mark Ballard of Newtown, and Leslie Da Silva of Danbury; a sister, Dorothy Barba of Conklin, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 8 pm on Friday, February 2, in the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. Interment will be in Newtown Village Cemetery in the spring. Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home Friday, February 2, from 5 to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown CT 06470.

The Newtown Bee        January 26, 2007