Bruce Allen Balton, a former New Hyde Park resident who went on to an Emmy Award-winning career as a camera and lighting technician, died unexpectedly at his home Milford, Pa. on Oct. 4. He was 56.
Balton was born May 17, 1957 in Queens to the late Albert and Theresa Malin Balton. He lived in Brooklyn and then in New Hyde Park for 15 or 20 years at 31 Beechwood Lane, according to his son Ryan.
He graduated from New Hyde Park Memorial High School in 1975. His brothers Chris and Rob and his sister Lori also went to New Hyde Park Memorial.
Balton married his wife, Terry, 27 years ago and they moved to Dingman Township, Pa., 25 years ago. They raised two sons, Ryan Shawn, 24, and Dustin Patrick, 22.
Balton briefly attended the New York Institute of Technology and began working as a freelance camera motion and lighting technician in the film and television industry.
He worked on thousands of television shows and films around the world, according to Ryan, and won an Emmy Award in 1993 as a camera crane operator on the HBO Boxing show “In This Corner.” He also received Emmy nominations as a camera jib operator on the Grammy Awards in 2003 and the Tony Awards in 2009.
Ryan Balton said his father survived a stroke in 2000 and retired five years ago.
Ryan said that throughout his career and retirement, his father stay connected to New Hyde Park.
“He did have a core group of friends he kept in touch with from high school. He definitely did have a connection with people in New Hyde Park,” Ryan said.
In recent years, Balton’s Facebook page enabled him to reconnect with even more friends from his days in New Hyde Park, his son said.
“There were people who hadn’t talked to him in 20 years. And that enabled that communication to happen again,” Ryan said.
He also attended a high school reunion in recent years, according to his son, who said his father’s sense of humor was one key to keep in touch with old friends.
“You always kind of knew what was on his mind. He would express himself with a good sense of humor,” Ryan said.
He was a member of the International Cinematographers Guild – International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 600 and the National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians.
Balton was also a former member of the Milford Volunteer Fire Department.
In addition to his wife and two children, Bruce is survived by brothers Christopher, Michael and Rober, sister Lori, and several nieces and nephews.
The Balton family will hold a celebration of Bruce’s life open to the public at the Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church at 115 Myck Rd. in Dingmans Ferry, Pa. on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m.
They also plan a celebration in New York City on Sunday, Nov. 24 from noon to 4 p.m. in P.J. Carney’s at 906 7th Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations for a bench or streetlight to be installed in Milford in memory of Bruce and his parents who were residents of Milford Borough.
Donations may be made payable to the non-profit “Milford Enhancement Committee” and sent to The Baltons, PO Box 68, Milford, Pa. 18337.
