Roger Hugh Balaban

On 15 May, Roger H. Balaban, age 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his Elizabethtown home after a long battle with the complications of Muscular Dystrophy. Roger was born on October 18, in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his B.A. from Webster University and completed his Masters Degree from University of Maryland. Roger was a proud U. S. Marine having served in the Corps from 1962 to 1966. Upon completion of his tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan, he accepted a government civilian position and remained in Okinawa. While there, he met and married his much beloved wife, Suchen. In 1974 he transferred to the Tank and Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Michigan. He moved to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois in 1976 where he worked for the U. S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). In 1992 he moved to Kentucky when the Command moved to Ft. Knox. As the USAREC Director of Information Management for more than a decade, Roger led the effort to build one of the largest and most secure private networks in the country and oversaw the design and development of an Enterprise integrated automated business system supporting Army Recruiting and Accessioning. These accomplishments were critical to the Army for building a strong and mission ready Force. He retired from Civil Service from his position as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the U. S. Army Accessions Command in 2008 after 43 years as an Army civilian. As CIO, he oversaw all aspects for delivery of technology services for the Command and its subordinate organizations, U. S. Army Recruiting Command and U.S. Army Cadet Command. He was highly respected by both his senior military and civilian peers for his leadership, technical advice and technology achievements. He managed a large and diverse staff who over the span of his career looked to him for career guidance, mentoring, and calm common sense advice. His integrity and fairness have been a positive influence on so many careers and lives. Roger was an avid fisherman. He spent countless glorious hours in his boat on Lake Michigan waiting for the coho salmon to bite. Later, in Brandenburg, his pontoon boat was a common sight on the Doe Valley Lake reeling in crappie. He shared his love of fishing with co-workers and friends. Roger is survived by: his loving wife of 43 years, Suchen; his daughter, Susan Inwright and husband, Gary Forsyth of Eatontown, New Jersey; daughter Theresa Palumbo and her husband Patrick and their five children, Heather, Jessica, Susie, Mary, and Ryan of Belvedere, Illinois; his son, Jason of Wauconda, Illinois; one brother, Dennis Balaban from East Lake, Ohio. Friends are invited to celebrate Roger's life at the Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, KY on Saturday, 10 June from 2 to 5 p.m. A "Remembrances of Roger" will be given at 3:30 p.m. A private interment is planned for a later date at the Fort Knox Military Cemetery. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of the Elizabethtown Hosparus who showed great compassion to Roger in his final days. Expressions of sympathy may be made by donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association: mda.org/make-a-donation or Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 97075 Washington D. C. 20077-7258. Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.

Visitation:

Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home

Service:

Saturday, June 10, 2017 starting at 3:30 PM
Brown Funeral Home

View Printer-Friendly Version