Alice Balz

Balz, Alice Ihling 8/19/1929 - 3/13/2017 Kalamazoo Alice Margaret Ihling Balz, 87, died at her home in Kalamazoo on Monday, March 13th of age related complications. Born in Kalamazoo in 1929 to Margaret Hoyt and Paul Ihling, she grew up to attend the Western Training School in her elementary years. She then boarded at Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA graduating in 1947. Alice went on to study history at Smith College in Northampton, MA and received her B.A. in 1950. Following college, she moved to New York City and worked for Esquire magazine as a copy editor and later, Simon and Schuster Publishing where she worked in their Golden Books division. Later, she spent time in Spain before returning to Kalamazoo to help care for her ailing father. She worked in the law offices of Ned Deming and even tried her hand at real estate before marrying Gunther W. Balz in 1960. Together, they were the first couple to fly around the world in a private plane, taking seven months to do so. Upon return, Alice took flying lessons to earn her pilot's license. After settling back into the community, she became a mother and ultimately divorced in 1970. Alice spent much of her life indulging her passions of travel, tennis, painting, music, reading, skiing, cooking, bridge, Lake Michigan and dogs. She spent many happy days among old and new friends alike, collecting stories and sharing her wit while fondly engaged with intellectual and creative pursuits. Her great gift for gab and seeking out social outlets kept her buoyant and she managed to always be un-apologetically herself. She leaves behind her children, Abigail Balz Samaha of New York City and William Paul Balz of Weston, MA and their spouses, Adam Marcus Samaha and Caroline Carlson Balz. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, William Frederick Balz, Charles Dean Balz and Oscar Atlas Samaha, to whom she was known simply as "Gralice". A private gathering of friends and family is planned for Friday, March 24th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the ASPCA in Alice's name.