Obituary of Alfred Balk

BALK--Alfred, a magazine writer, editor, and nonfiction book author died of cancer at his home in Huntley, IL on November 25, 2010. He served as an editor at four national magazines; wrote more than 100 magazine articles and seven books; co-edited an eighth; and served on the faculties of Columbia and Syracuse Universities. Balk's research and scholarly papers are in the collections of the Newberry Library in Chicago and Syracuse University. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Balk, of Huntley, IL, two daughters, Laraine Balk Hope of Rockville, MD and Diane Balk Palguta of Indianapolis, IN, two grandchildren, Anna and Andrew Palguta, and a sister, Virginia Pickering of Fullerton, CA. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, December 3, 2010, at the First Congregational Church of Huntley, 11628 E. Main Street where the family will greet friends from 10:00am until service time. Contributions can be sent to Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 405 Lake Zurich Rd., Barrington, IL 60010 or The Newberry Library, Al Balk Memorial, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60610. For further information, please call DeFiore Jorgensen Funeral Home of Huntley at 847-515-8772.