Anthony Alonzo Ball (1964-2007)
Anthony Alonzo Ball was born in 1964 in Mr. Vernon, New York. He excelled in academics and was salutatorian of Mr. Vernon High School Class of 1982. He went on to earn a B.A. degree in Government and History from Harvard University, a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton Unversity, and a Juris Doctorate from Yale University Law School.
Prior to embarking on his law career, Anthony interned at the White House under President Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget and with the Rand Corporation in California. He also worked in Jamaica, documenting human rights abuses and tracked cases of police brutality. After passing the Connecticut State Bar Exam in 1991, Anthony practiced law for several years, specializing in commercial litigation. He argued two cases before the Second Circuit Court of the United States in New York. In 1999, Anthony joined the faculty of Housatonic Community College, in Bridgeport, Connecticut as a professor of politics and history. In 2002, he became Director of the College’s HUD-funded Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC), and in 2003, Chairperson of the Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences. Through the COPC program, Anthony provided technical assistance to and worked closely with the City of Bridgeport, many community and faith-based organizations serving Bridgeport on issues relating to housing and homelessness, capacity building, community health care, and early learning and child care. He spent many summers assisting the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C. review their grant processes and RFP requirements. He was well-known throughout the country as an expert in writing HUD-funded grants by encouraging and stressing the value of true community partnerships between local nonprofit organizations and Higher Educational Institutions. In 2005, Anthony started his own consulting business, specializing in grant writing, strategic planning, nonprofit management, and community and economic development.
He volunteered thousands of hours to facilitate the formulation of NRZ plans with the East End, West Side, East Side, Black Rock and South End neighborhoods in Bridgeport. He successfully obtained a $50,000 grant from J.P. Morgan Chase to formulate NRZ plans for Black Rock and South End neighborhoods. In November 2007, he was honored by the City of Bridgeport with “Tony Ball” Day and was described as “truly compassionate and dedicated man” in the proclamation. On that day, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut also formally expressed its condolences on the passing of citizen Anthony Ball, citing the assistance he gave to “Bridgeport, a city he loved” as a reason to honor him.
Anthony believed in community serving on various nonprofit boards of directors and providing much needed technical support to many of these local organizations and groups including the Friends of the Bridgeport Library. He worked closely with the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation and was often found in their Resource Center conducting workshops or giving advice. In June, 2007, The Foundation paid tribute to him at heir Annual Meeting and named their Resource Center in his honor. Anthon’s work with the nonprofit community demonstrated his profound desire to help others, and to speak for those who could not speak for themselves. He stood up for what was right, fought for social justice, often in the face of perosnal costs and professional sacrifice. While at Harvard, he led a successful effort to force the institution to divest itself of its interests in apartheid South Africa. He also set up education programs in housing developments in the Greater Boston Area.
Anthony loved teaching, and enjoyed his students. He was a voracious reader, spending much of his time in bookstores and libraries. He was a jazz enthusiast and was passionate about good food. He was a big supporter of the Arts. Anthony loved a good discussion, and was a master debater, whether in the classroom or in the courtroom. He returned often to Harvard to preside over Mock Debates.
In 1992 Anthony married his wife, Karlene. He was best known as a dedicated and beloved family man and a generous human being.
