10/23/2007 - Frederick Balderston 1923 - 2007
It is with great sadness I have to tell you that Professor Fred Balderston, AFS Life Trustee and Ambulance Driver, died last Thursday evening in Berkeley, California. Fred was born on August 15, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and received his early education at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania and at Deep Springs Junior College, California.
As a Quaker, Fred had conscentious scruples against bearing arms. Fred was nineteen and a student at Cornell and his brother Robert eighteen when they volunteered with the American Field Service as ambulance drivers in September of 1942.
They sailed to the Middle East with the AFS Unit Middle East 37 in January 1943. Both Balderstons served with the British 8th and 9th Armies in the Middle East, North Africa, Italy and Austria in 1943-45. Fred was first assigned as an ambulance driver to AFS 11 Coy serving with the British 9th Army in Syria in March 1943. He was transferred to Italy and attached to AFS 485 Coy in October 1943. In May of 1944 Fred was recommended for the British Empire Medal for his courage under shell fire and rescue of wounded Lt. Bryan, who later died. Fred was appointed a Lieutenant and Commander of “C” Platoon, AFS 485 ACC Coy in November 1944. After the end of the war in Europe Fred was transferred with an AFS Unit to India-Burma. He was repatriated to the United States in December of 1945.
For his service he was awarded the British Award “Mentioned in Despatches” in July of 1945. He also received the Africa Star, 1939-45 Star, and Italy Star.
After the war Fred had a distinguished career in business management and education, His association with the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley dates back to 1953. Fred was Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business since 1991. He was Professor at Haas from 1961 until 1991. He served as Associate Dean of the Business School in 1979-81 and 1983. In the 1960’s and 1970’s Fred served as Special Assistant to the President of the University of California, Vice President of Business and Finance, University of California and Chairman of the Center for Research in Management, University of California.
Fred was Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Bernard Osher Foundation, San Francisco in 1994-98. He was California Savings and Loan Commissioner in 1963-66 and Board Member of the Bernard Osher Foundation and California Nature Conservancy.
Fred was an author of many articles and monographs on marketing channels, financial regulation, higher education, and corporate strategy. Among his books are: “Simulation of Market Processes” (1961) with A. C. Hogatt; “Managing Today’s University: Strategies for Viability, Change and Excellence” (Jossey-Bass, Inc., 1974, revised edition 1995) and “Thrifts in Crisis” (Cambridge, 1985).
Fred became involved with AFS again when he was elected an AFS Life Trustee in 1966 and this involvement continued throughout his life. As an AFS Founder and Life Trustee he continued to play an influential role in AFS throughout the years. Fred’s most recent appearances have been at AFS Volunteer Forums in Hong Kong and Beijing in 2000, where he was a keynote speaker and presented the Galatti Award to Daisy Lau, an AFS Hong Kong Volunteer. He also addressed AFS students and host families in Russia in 2001.
Fred received the Berkeley Citation in 1991 and he was honored at the AFS-USA 2004 Annual Gala in New York for support and leadership he has provided to AFS over the years. Fred ’s commitment and his belief in the AFS mission is reflected in his own words:
“The essence of this world-wide organization is belief in the potent strength of direct personal experience as a basis for understanding those of another culture. The experiences of students, host parents and siblings, result in lifelong attachments that transcend conventional education and become the heart of what we hope will move toward a better world.”
Fred gave so much and with so much passion to our organization over the years. A real loss to AFS.
Tachi Cazal
 |
Printer Friendly |
