Russell Ball Obituary
Russell G. Ball, accomplished foodie, adult beverage enthusiast, platinum level Walmart shopper and legendary good-time guy, died peacefully on November 20th 2016. He lived to see his 75th birthday, surrounded by family and friends, and then stuck around several extra days to make sure Hillary Clinton, was NOT elected as our 45th President.
Russell was born and raised in Clifton NJ and summered at the Jersey Shore with family and friends. He entered the US Army in 1965, serving in Vietnam as an Armor Reconnaissance Specialist with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the renowned Blackhorse Regiment). He was the recipient of three Purple Hearts as well as several service medals. He was a gifted mechanic and upon returning to Clifton from the war, worked for a few local shops before opening his own business, Russell’s Automotive.
The women in his life were numerous – he even married a few. Despite his track record, he was no quitter! Four fine women gave Russell five wonderful children. Much to the chagrin of the wife/lady du jour, he was always up for an adventure, road-trip or other distraction, often at a moment’s notice. He loved motorcycles, classic cars, motorsports, and would frequent various speedways and dragstrips to watch the events.
To avoid the massive traffic jams, he and a cousin drove a Cadillac through a cornfield to get to the Woodstock music festival in 1969. An avid music lover and concert goer, over his lifetime, he saw all the legendary rock bands and attended hundreds of concerts and performances.
In the 60’s & 70’s Russ presided over many epic festival-style camping trips on a family owned tract of land in upstate NY lovingly known as “The Farm”. At any given time, a dozen or so people could be found there enjoying music, pig roasts, peace, love and “whatnot”. Long before Las Vegas appropriated the slogan, what happened at The Farm, stayed at The Farm!
In 1980, Russ moved to the island of Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Much to the exasperation of the people around him, he had always lived on “island time” so the B.V.I was a perfect fit. Russ loved Tortola so much, he made it his home for the next 35 years. He was a well-known fixture on the island among locals and ex-patriots alike. He became General Manager of Tortola Concrete Products, running both the quarry and concrete operations. He worked hard. When not working, Russ loved sailing to neighboring islands, cooking, spending time with friends, taking visitors to his favorite local spots, listening to music and joining in whatever good-time was happening at the moment. He also realized his dream of owning/running a bar/restaurant. Craving classic NY style pizza; he opened Paradise Pizza there in the 80’s. Twenty years later he and a partner opened Cruzin’ Bar & Grille where he was his own best customer. Russ loved nothing more than to indulge his devotion to great food & drink while hanging out behind the bar to chat with everyone who came by. He was a great conversationalist and could discuss many subjects, but a favorite topic was government conspiracy theories or, alternatively, his most-loved SNL skits (“more cowbell”) or Monty Python movie quips (“bring me a shrubbery!”).
Although he had an average lifespan, Russell did not live an average life. He lived his life unapologetically, doing whatever interested him. This life choice was hard on his children and the people who loved him, but they loved him anyway. Russ was generous, fun-loving, charismatic, and amazingly adaptable to any situation. He just went with the flow, and never lost his sense of humor.
Russell was predeceased by his brother Jeffrey J. Ball in 2003. He is survived by his five children: daughter Allyson & son-in-law Marc Norris of NJ, daughter Julie Ball of CA, son Daniel Ball of AZ, son Russell Kiss & daughter-in-law Jitka of CO, and daughter Stevie Ball of Tortola B.V.I. He is also survived by brother Craig Ball, cousins Joel Glerum & Alison Stanford, sister-in-law Judy Ball, two granddaughters, Noel Ball & Emma Norris, two grandsons, Ryan & Luca Ball as well as nephews Eric & Steven Ball. Russ had many friends near and far. No doubt his memory will live on thru each re-telling of the anecdotes, jokes and modern folklore created when his larger-than-life presence touched each person’s life.
The family would like to thank the wonderful, dedicated staff of Sitter and Barfoot Veteran’s Care Center who took such excellent care of him for the last 18 months of his life. Finally, the family asks that you celebrate Russell’s life by hoisting a gin & tonic or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in his honor and make a donation to your local Veteran’s organization or the DAV.
Russell George Ball Although he might be retired in some places (he was 67 when interviewed in 2008) Russell shows no signs of slowing down. Originally from Clifton, New Jersey (ten miles west of New York City) he grew up in the construction business, and gained a good general knowledge of all of its facets. He was drafted in 1964 and served in Vietnam, returning to the USA in 1966. He now lives in Shannon, overlooking Cane Garden Bay.
In the late 1970s, when he was 36 y.o., Russell went to St. Thomas (1978) as a tourist. He liked the region, and after going back and forth a few times moved to Tortola three years later in 1981 (at 39). He originally hoped to operate a beach bar, checking out Smugglers’ Cove and White Bay but it didn’t work out – at that time. He was hired to run a ship owned by some friends at a sale, and took it around the Caribbean for a few years, but then decided he should “settle down”.
In 1983 he went to work for what is now Tortola Concrete using the skills acquired in New Jersey. In those days, unlike now, it was relatively easy to get a work permit. This was a time when demand for concrete was rising as ‘development’ was starting to build on a large scale – a construction boom beginning in the mid-80s. He worked for Tortola Concrete until 1993, leaving because the dust exacerbated his CRPD, and struck out on his own – although continuing as an advisor to TC. He found it easy to move into construction as he had a wide network of contacts (via TC) and a varied skill set (as a result of his upbringing).
Russell has seen a mixed bag of changes during his three decades in the BVI. ‘Culture’ has changed a lot as a result of globalisation – and particularly VT, Radio, and other forms of mass communication. Consequently traditions such as Christmas are now quite different from the past. Commercialisation has changed things in many ways, not altogether a good thing for Russell – although of course, ironically, he has been part of this process. Over the years Russell has trained a lot of locals (and other expats) and has helped to improve the building standards of the BVI.
Nowadays Russell sees many more opportunities for the entrepreneur in the BVI, although a lot of locals who left in earlier years are returning with skills and ideas acquired elsewhere, and thus these islands are not as ‘open’ for non-belongers as they used to be.
Russell sees some negatives in some of the cultural change, and in he increase in violence but maintains that Tortola “is my home” and always will be. His ambition is to cut back to six days a week and go sailing more. He recently opened Cruising in “the little village” of Carrot Bay, with his partner Lena, finally getting the beach bar he dreamed about thirty years ago. New Jersey is now just a place to visit family.
Draft of December 11th, 2008