Sam S. Ballard

samSamuel S. Ballard was born in Portland, Maine in 1931, the youngest of seven children of Ernest S. Ballard & Elisabeth D. Ballard. He attended Andover Academy and Harvard University where he attained first a BA and then a BS in electrical engineering.  During the 1950’s he served in the US Army where he received a commendation for his work with the rocket scientist Wernher von Braun at the Redstone Missile Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He later settled in Hollis, New Hampshire where he continued working on defense oriented electronic engineering in a career that spanned more than thirty years. During that time he continued to summer and spend holidays on Chebeague Island. In 1999 he and his wife, Sally, moved to the Island to live year round in the house that his son, Tim, designed and built.

Sam was an avid sailor all of his life. He helped build his ketch, Mundeamo, and his trimaran, The Fastest Indian. He loved to cruise up and down the Eastern Seaboard with his family and friends.

Sam took pride in participating in many Island civic activities and was instrumental in making The Hook, a large parcel of seafront property, a nature conservancy. He loved being part of the island community. He also worked diligently on the successful effort for Chebeague Island to become independent from the town of Cumberland. 

He had a great appreciation for art and music and supported many local artisans, but his greatest love was sailing.

Sam is survived by his wife, Sally, his two children, Timothy and Andrea Ballard, and his four step children: Stephanie McAllister Poon, Celia Sandbloom, Tracy Weitz, Julie Doane.

Donations may be made in his memory to: The Island Commons 132 Littlefield Road, Chebeague Island ME 04017.