In Memory of Rev. José A. Ballester (July 9, 1951 – June 7, 2023)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. José A. Ballester, who died on June 7, 2023, at the age of 71.
José was born on July 9, 1951, in New York City to José Ballester and Juanita Marquez Ballester. He was raised Roman Catholic in the Chelsea area of downtown Manhattan and lived across the street from a large park that provided more varied opportunities than usually available in an urban setting. He attended parochial schools up through high school; was an altar boy in the eighth grade and was involved in wrestling, football, and track. He also had an emerging interest in photography.
In 1974, José graduated with his Bachelor of Arts from Manhattan College. Wanting to pursue photography, he opened a commercial studio in 1977 and primarily did portfolio work for actors/actresses. In 1979, he entered a Master in Directing Program at Emerson College in Boston, while he did not complete work for the degree, he instead decided to pursue ministry as a vocational goal. During this time, he worked as a technical supervisor for the Opera Company in Boston. He married in the First Parish Church, Nowell, MA. He found the Unitarian tradition to be consistent with his beliefs and realized that ministry was right for him to pursue. After much discernment, he entered Andover Newton Theological School and earned his Master of Divinity in 1987.
Rev. Ballester was ordained on June 3, 1984, by the First Parish Church, Nowell, MA. He served his first interim ministry at the First Universalist Church, Woonsocket, RI (1984-1985). His ministry focused on healing the congregational wounds, conflict management, strengthening the connection to the association, and preparing the leadership to begin the ministerial search. Thereafter, he served as an interim minister at All Souls Church of Braintree UU, MA (1985-1986) working with the congregation to welcome its next pastor, the first woman to serve in that capacity in their history. In 1987, Rev. Ballester accepted a call from the UU Church of Brockton, MA where he would minister until 1992. At Brockton, he was significant in the development of the RE program. The RE enrollment doubled in his first year. His important accomplishment was the pastoral care he gave to the congregation, to the people outside the congregation, and to people who were dying and their families. He was also involved in Project Hope with the Rotary Club; the Scholarship Program of the Charitable Education Foundation; the YMCA; the United Way; the Brockton Civic Orchestra; the Brockton Interfaith Council, and the Area Clergy Association.
His interim ministry at the First Universalist Church of Orange, MA (1992-1994) helped the congregation in reorganizing their entire administrative procedures including hiring, training, supervising paid staff, and in their search process. From 1994 to 2001, Rev. Ballester served as an endorsed community minister for the UU Service Committee. He created programs, trained staff, managed several remote locations, and made many public presentations. In addition, he assisted in raising the necessary funding from foundations, social justice organizations, and individual congregations. Subsequently, from 2001 to 2003, he served as an Interim minister for the First Parish in Malden Universalist, MA. He helped the congregation obtain funding for outreach programs into the surrounding community and reestablish healthy congregational connections to the district and association. He assisted the leadership at the First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches, FL (2003-2004) in establishing sound financial practices. In 2004, the Revs. Gail Lindsay Marriner and José Ballester were installed as team ministers by the First UU Church of Houston, TX (2004-2008). Rev. Ballester was instrumental in representing the church in the larger community.
From 2008 to 2011, he was a consulting minister for the Religious Society of Bell Street Chapel. He worked closely with the District Executive, Rev. Bill Zelazny, established a behavioral covenant, and supported the congregational leadership in renewing its commitment to the association. The congregation also found new life in community involvement. Likewise, his interim ministry at the Foxborough Universalist Church, MA from 2011 to 2012 focused on leadership development and congregational growth.
Rev. Ballester sat on the Board of the UUA (2003-2011) and other denominational committees. He served the YRUU Steering Committee (2003-2004); the Ballou Channing District (2009-2010); and the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (2010-2011). He co-authored the UUA curriculum on racial justice, “Race to Justice”, and contributed to “Weaving the Fabric of Diversity”, the UUA curriculum on diversity. Following his retirement, he spent time writing, specifically focused on the history of LUUNA – the Latino/ a Unitarian Universalist Networking Association, of which he was one of the founding members.
José was very proud of the work he did at the UU Service Committee (1995-2000), running work camps, rebuilding burned churches in Alabama and South Carolina, and working with the Lakota to repair flood-damaged schools in South Dakota.
In his leisure time, José enjoyed playing various computer games in network with others across the country and found pure joy in being a grandfather to his five grandchildren.
José is survived by his wife Susan Ballester; son: Daniel Ballester; daughters: Elizabeth Ballester, and Kathy Noonan; five grandchildren: Olivia, Maeve, Ariana, Ella, and Javi; his sister: Nilda Core as well as seven nieces and eight nephews.
A celebration of life took place on June 13, 2023, at the Old Ship Church, 14 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043.
Memorial donations may be made to the World Central Kitchen.
Notes of condolence can be sent to Susan Ballester & Family, 95 Parkview St. #108, South Weymouth, MA 02190.