In memoriam.

Dr. Edith L. Ball, pioneer, leader, teacher, mentor, professional colleague and friend to many, died in her home in Tucson (AZ) on December 31, 1996 at the age of 91. Her professional involvement in recreation began in 1931 when she was appointed as Director of Physical Education and Recreation in the School of Nursing at Western Reserve University where for six years she taught classes and developed recreation programs for students, hospital staff and patients. From 1937 to 1943, Edith was employed by the Works Projects Administration in Baltimore (MD) where she served as Supervisor of Recreation, District Director of Communities, and Director of War Service Activities for Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia. Among her numerous responsibilities was organizing community recreation services in 23 Maryland counties, developing specialized programs for pre-school children and developing recreation services in hospitals and homes. She also was involved in the organization of recreation for military personnel.

From 1943 to 1947, Edith served as Assistant Director and then Director of Recreation and Education for the Office of Residence Halls, Washington, DC. She was responsible for the organization and operation of programs in four recreation buildings and 18 residences for 11,000 women government workers and their friends. In 1947, she left the federal government to become the Executive Director of Stuyvesant Neighborhood House in New York City, a position she held until 1950. Thus, after 16 years, she returned to the city where she was born, went to school and earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees at Teachers College, Columbia University. At Stuyvesant House, she directed the operation of a full settlement house program for 1,500 members and the operation of a summer residential camp. She also began a doctoral studies program at New York University, which she completed in 1953.

For the next 23 years, Edith served as Instructor, Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor in the School of Education at New York University, teaching and providing leadership and direction to the program in the areas of recreation leadership and administration, camping administration, and hospital recreation, the precursor to what is now known as therapeutic recreation. In 1973, when she retired, Edith was appointed Professor Emerita. She continued to teach as an adjunct professor at both New York University and George Washington University until 1975 when she moved to Tucson.

Throughout her professional career, Edith was active in local, state and national professional organizations. From 1937, when she served for three years as Chair of the Division of Girls and Women's Sports for the Maryland State Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, to 1994 she was involved as an officer or committee chair in at least one--and sometimes as many as four--national, state or local recreation and park and therapeutic recreation organizations. During the period 1956-1962 she served, in succession, as Chair of the Hospital Section, Secretary, Second Vice President, First Vice President, President Elect, and President of the American Recreation Society. From 1962 to 1965, she served on the national committee which brought together eight organizations to form the National Recreation and Park Association.

Edith became a Professional member of the first Board of Directors of NRPA, serving a three-year term and was then elected as a corporate member of the Board to serve an additional three years. During this time period she was also a member of the Boards of Directors of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators (SPRE) and of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS).

She was appointed as Chair of the National Accrediting Committee of SPRE in 1967 and was instrumental in the development of the Council on Accreditation formed by NRPA and the American Association for Recreation and Leisure in 1976. She served as Chair or member of numerous Accreditation Visitation Teams from 1978 to 1986 and remained active as a committee member of the Council for several years. In 1970, she became a founding member of the Scholarship Committee of the World Leisure and Recreation Association (WLRA) and she remained an active member through the summer of 1996. Edith represented WLRA at international conferences in Australia, Japan and the Philippines.

Edith was the author of numerous articles, monographs, book chapters and co-author of one book. Yet she found the time to serve for 10 years as a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY; a member of the Board of Directors of Neighborhood House in NYC from 1963 to 1972, and a member of American Youth Hostels, Board of Directors for 12 years among other community service endeavors. After moving to Tucson, she taught courses at the University of Arizona and Texas Woman's University, served as a member and chair of the Therapeutic Recreation Advisory Council for the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and was active in the state society. In 1981, she was elected to serve a three-year term as a Regional Representative on the Board of Directors of NTRS.

A number of prestigious awards, citations and honors were bestowed upon her. Among the most notable are: Distinguished Fellow Award, 1971, by SPRE; Distinguished Service Award by NTRS in 1974; J.B. Nash Scholar Lecturer, 1979, by AALR; and the Ernest O. Melby Award for Distinguished Service in Human Relations, 1980, by the Alumni Association of the School of Education, New York University. In 1980, Edith became a Charter fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences and in 1981, a Charter fellow of the Academy of Park and Recreation Administration. In 1993, she was made a Life Trustee of NRPA and was the recipient of the Ralph C. Wilson Award, established by the Board of Trustees of NRPA and awarded each year to the person who best exemplifies Wilson's leadership and commitment to the Association. Upon her retirement in 1972, the School of Education, Program in Recreation and Leisure Studies established a scholarship in her name. Edith's family encourages friends and colleagues to send contributions in her memory to the Edith L Ball Scholarship Fund, New York University, Program in Recreation and Leisure Studies, 35 West 4th Street, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10012-1172.

Dr. Edith L. Ball, Professor Emerita, you were a dedicated professional, superb role model for and supporter of women in the profession of recreation and parks, world traveler and ambassador for the profession, a woman of considerable charm with a great sense of playfulness, and our good friend. You will long be missed by all who have known and loved you. We celebrate your long, productive and fully-lived life.

--Doris L. Berryman, Claudette B. Lefebvre and Arnold H. Grossman

Edith Ball was a quiet, patient, persistent professional who encouraged people to achieve. This is most evident in the determined manner in which she participated in the process to create the accreditation system available today. Edith was also a pioneer in the explanation of the specialty area of therapeutic recreation by publishing what is the basis for today's explanation of the field. She was an advocate for unity within the field of recreation as illustrated in her active role in the merger that created NRPA, and NTRS. Above all, Edith was a lady in all of her life, willing to disagree, but also looking for compromise.

--Catherine Eilenberger, Assistant Professor, Winston-Salem State University 

Edith Ball played an important role as a member of the first generation of pioneer physical education and recreation and park educators--including such individuals as Jay B. Nash, Charles Brightbill, and "Gold" Metcalf. She helped to encourage many hundreds of young people to enter the emerging leisure service profession, with special emphasis on recreation's social contribution.

--Richard Kraus, Professor Emeritus, Temple University

When I think of Edith, I remember the quiet, principled moving force she has always been in the leisure profession. She was a constant inspiration and "coach" to us early professional educators. Unassuming and never seeking the spotlight she was nevertheless in the spotlight many times, especially as we developed accreditation standards in the 1960s. Her writings and belief in high standards have a continuous impact upon our profession and all those who knew her.--Frances C. Cannon, Professor Emerita, Florida State University 

Edith Ball was a giant in the field of recreation. The legacy she leaves will remain through her students with whom she had a profound influence. Her wisdom and insight will be sorely missed.

--Joseph J. Bannon, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois 

Dr. Edith Ball was one of the giants in the recreation, parks and leisure services movement. Always scholarly and challenging in her approach to professional issues, students and colleagues, she inspired everyone to reach out to "do their best." She was always extraordinarily gracious and sensitive to other people. She was a consummate professional and a great lady.

--Tony A. Mobley, Dean of the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation, Indiana University 

Edith Ball was a professional in the true meaning of the word. If she were here, she would have exciting ideas about the therapeutic recreation profession an well as the parks and recreation profession. She would be ready to offer her time and remarkable talents to help the field--just as she did when I first met her in 1962 and on many occasions thereafter. She was lively in spirit coupled with a charming manner and will be remembered for her heritage of humanistic concern.

--Gerald O'Morrow, Professor, Radford University 

List the characteristics of the true professional and you have described Edith Ball whose philosophy, contributions and "role modeling" made her the consummate professional.

--Jean P. Tague, Professor Emeritus, Texas Womens University

Edith and I had had a friendly professional relationship for many years, but with our acceptance of the national accreditation challenge in the early 1960s, we then had over 15 years of concentrated interaction towards a common goal. I remember burning the midnight oil in cities too numerous to mention. I remember strategy sessions to plan how to reach our reluctant colleagues, the power structure in a variety of organizations, or the academic community on several campuses.

But, most of all, I remember Edith as a meticulous organizer, an articulate interpreter, an unselfish contributor, a polite listener (even when her eyes popping revealed some real disagreement), a teacher respected and loved by her students, and as a loyal friend.

Dr. Ball gave of herself, her time, her energies--to a profession in whose worth she firmly believed. She was a pioneer who kept touch with her professional bases even in a long retirement.

One word always surfaces as I think of Edith--dedicated. That she was. We need a few more Dr. Balls as our profession strives to meet the increasing challenges of the 21st century.

--Dr. Janet R. MacLean, Professor Emerita, Indiana University

Dr. Ball was quiet, forceful and always self assured. When she offered an opinion it was well reasoned, and generally signaled the resolution of the issue. She sought consensus, but wasn't afraid to be the lone voice when she was on the right side of the dispute.

When I graduated in the mid-1960s, Charles Brightbill told me that if I wanted to really understand the potential of parks and recreation as a force for positive societal change I must study with Edith Ball. He was right.

--Janna S. Rankin, President Society of Park and Recreation Educators

Edith Ball had long been a legendary leader in the recreation and parks field when I had the opportunity to work closely with her-in her retirement! Edith moved to Tucson, and immediately became a devoted contributor to academics, professionals and lay people there. She was untiring in her post-retirement activities: reading to the blind, serving on advisory boards and commissions, and being a mover and a shaker in that city. I valued her wisdom, professionalism and commitment to the field, and regret greatly her passing. She was a unique treasure; we were enriched by her life, and we are diminished by her absence.

--Diana R. Dunn, Former Department Head, University of Arizona

When I began my professional career, Dr. Ball already had established herself as a respected professional national leader in the recreation field; however, she always took time to encourage and provide opportunities for young professionals, and for this kindness to me, I will ever be grateful. She believed in the profession and that we should help make it better by our service, and in this she was indeed a role model. She set a high standard of professional integrity and personal ethics.

--Betty van der Smissen, Professor, Michigan State University 

In her own quiet and unassuming way, Edith Ball was a very effective leader and mentor. The success of our accreditation effort was in part due to this gentle but firm lady. Her negotiations with the various professional organizations supporting accreditation and the National Commission on Accreditation were significant. It was typical of her. She was always there for the profession and for her friends. We will indeed miss her but we are better for having known her.

--H. Douglas Sessoms, Professor Emeritus, University of North Carolina 

My admiration for Dr. Edith Ball began in 1964 when I served on the American Recreation Society Board during merger negotiation with the then National Recreation Association, the American Institute of Park Executives and ARS. Dr. Ball visualized the strength and impact that the establishment of a united single voice would have on the profession and its successful growth and image.

The late Bob Crawford, Al LaGasse, Joe Prendergast, Charles Hartsoe, Beverly Sheffield and Dr. Ball were the key players in bringing about the establishment we know today. To Dr. Ball and all the others we owe a major debt of gratitude for this singularly outstanding accomplishment.

--Graham M. Skea, Commissioner, Orange County (NY) Parks, Recreation and Conservation

I had the opportunity to work with Edith Ball on the NRPA Recruitment Training and Placement Committee with the American Recreation Society and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. I found Edith to be a hard worker and always well prepared for anything she took on. As an educator she was very committed to the professionals in the field, and she was one of the early supporters of a professional association for therapeutic recreation. We did not always agree, but I had the highest respect for her, and enjoyed working with Edith. When you called on Edith to do something, you knew it would get done.

--Robert F Toalson, General Manager, Champaign (IL) Park District

I first met Dr. Edith Ball in 1969, while serving as an NRPA Intern at the Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY where she was providing in-service education for the recreation staff. She taught us about the growing field of recreation and gave us practical guidance in establishing--bringing to life--a continuum of recreational services. Dr. Ball was perhaps the first person to conceptualize the field in this particular way, effectively bridging the work in residential treatment to community-based services. What I remember most about Dr. Edith Ball was her dignity and grace, her generosity, and the unselfish acts of kindness that made a difference for me and in my career. I like to tell my students today about how as one of the very few women in this male-dominated field, accomplished so much a national leader. I admire her greatly. This field can take pride in the life of Dr. Edith Ball, and in honoring her, can celebrate the virtues we look for in ourselves. We surely do miss her and I remain grateful for knowing her as a colleague and friend.

--Gerald S. Fain, Professor, Boston University