2000s

John Michael Balio ’03

John Michael Balio ’03, a businessman and pilot, was born on May 25, 1978, in New Hartford, N.Y., the son of Donna and Anthony Balio. A 1996 graduate of Frankfort-Schuyler High School, he made the short trip up to College Hill where he was an economics major with a minor in mathematics. 

During his time at Hamilton, Balio worked as a grader for the Math Department and a tutor in the Quantitative Literacy Center. Outside of his academic pursuits, he played squash and rugby and served as treasurer of the Student Assembly. Upon receiving the Sidney Wertimer, Jr. Prize Scholarship in Economics at a Class & Charter Day ceremony, he noted: “The best part about Hamilton are the student/faculty relationships. The faculty here consistently challenge students to perform at their highest ability. I have grown as an individual throughout my time here.”

Following graduation, Balio began his career at Morgan Stanley in New York City before moving back to Frankfort. He worked for Lockheed Martin, Partners Trust Bank and Lightning Fast Freight, his father’s company. He then switched careers and worked for the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and eventually Patterson Dental as a dental equipment salesman. On Aug. 4, 2007, he married Amy VanApeldorn in the College Chapel.

According to a published obituary, Adventure was John’s middle name. His passion for flying airplanes defined his soul. He belonged in the air and tried to get everyone he knew into his plane to share his passion. He also shared many motorcycle and horseback rides, bonfires in his backyard, camping, hiking trips and walks down the creek to the hilltop waterfall with his many friends and family. 

John M. Balio died at age 37 on April 24, 2016, at Massachusetts General Hospital where he was being treated for injuries sustained in a plane crash. Six days earlier, the small plane he was piloting took off from a small landing strip in Westmoreland, N.Y., failed to gain sufficient altitude and crashed near a residential property. In a heroic effort, Balio helped his girlfriend from the plane and returned to the burning aircraft to assist another passenger. He sustained his fatal injuries during that rescue attempt. In addition to his parents, Balio is survived by a daughter, two brothers and several nieces, nephews and cousins, including Gina Annatone Gabrielli ’97 and Kristy Annatone Nole ’99.