1939 - 2025
OBITUARY
Janos (John) Gyorgy Baller, 85, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 17, 2025, at Taconic Rehabilitation & Nursing at Beacon, after several years of declining health. Born April 10, 1939 in Budapest, Hungary to Piroska Kiraly and Janos Baller. John immigrated to the United States in 1956 at the age of 17 at the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution. John graduated from Franklin D Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park in 1960 while working at night and studying English. On June 25, 1967 at The First Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls, he married the love of his life, Elaine Jaycox of Poughkeepsie. John and Elaine were married for 53 years and raised their family in the Village of Wappingers Falls. John was a hard worker and his career included sales manager at Sherwin Williams, developing his own company Unitech Industrial Inc., and creating a small plumbing business. In retirement, John provided livery services and drove limousines for Visconti Ground Transport. John truly enjoyed people and giving back to others. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a lifetime member of the New Hamburg Yacht Club. John was a devoted family man, proud grandfather, a lover of all animals - especially cats and dogs, loved classical music and always kept his Hungarian heritage alive. He had the special honor of being knighted in Hungary on 9/11/04, as a Knight of St. George, for his charitable work in Hungary with 9/11. John’s journey included extensive travel to many different countries in his never ending quest to improve the lives of others and bridge relationships between people of various countries. He is survived by his daughter, Melinda Baller and her husband Michael Polce, of Rocky Hill, CT and his son, Eric, his wife Cristi, and their children Emily and Owen, of Poughkeepsie, NY, his sister-in-law Linda Miller (Elaine’s twin sister), and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Elaine, his parents and his brother, Tibor. Services will be private and scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s name, can be made to the following: Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org, Make-A-Wish America at www.wish.org Dutchess, County SPCA at www.dcspca.org