Mimi Ballard of Lexington, MA, who lived previously for 35 years in Princeton, passed away on September 8, 2016. Wife of Richard Ballard for over 51 years. mother of R. Brian Ballard and his wife Patricia of Belmont, MA, and of Lisa Ballard and her husband David Fitzsimmons of Marlborough, MA. Her husband and children were with her at the time of her passing. Mimi is also survived by her two grandsons, Andrew and Thomas of Belmont. At the time of her passing, Mimi was Executive Director of the Research Institute for Learning Development, Lexington. This organization provides assistance to children with learning problems. She was Treasurer of Friends of Cary Memorial Library, Lexington, and was Co-President of Non-Profit-Network, an organization of non-profit groups in the Boston area.
In her years in Princeton, Mimi was Executive Director of Family and Children’s Services of Central New Jersey (“FACS”). FACS provided a variety of assistance programs to families and children with needs. FACS also raised special funds to provide needed back-to-school items such as backpacks and school supplies to children facing hard times. She was President of The Riverside School PTO and, later, of the John Witherspoon Middle School PTO.
She was a founder and President of the Princeton Soccer Association which had over 1,000 youth soccer players during her time as President. She was President of the New Jersey Family Services Association; she received the “Woman of the Year” award from the Princeton YMCA/YWCA; she was active in the Young Audiences organization; in McCarter Theatre; and in the Princeton Regional Scholarship Fund.
Anyone interested in making a donation in Mimi’s memory can do so to: Friends of Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420.
