Samuel Balen

Sam passed away early on the morning on Friday, October 26th, 2018 at the Retreat at Church Ranch assisted living facility in Westminster, Colorado. He and Ruth, his wife of 66 years had been living there since June of 2017. He died after battling cancer over the last 10 months. The youngest of 4 children, Sam was born in North Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Lincoln, Illinois. He earned a degree in Architecture from the University of Illinois in 1957. Sam met Ruth – his wife to be – while at the University. He worked in the kitchen of Ruth’s dorm. She told her friends “that’s the man I’m going to marry.” They married in January of 1952 before he was drafted by the army and sent on a two-year stint fighting in Korea during the Korean War. While in the army, he earned 2 Bronze Service Stars, a National Defense Service Medal, and a United Nations Service Medal, among other commendations. The Army wanted to keep him, but rather than re-up, Sam returned to Illinois and Ruth (who worked while he studied), to finish his education, and to start a family. Just before earning his degree in 1957, Sam and Ruth had the first of four children when son Mike was born in 1956. They moved to Madison, Wisconsin shortly after when Sam got a job in an architectural practice. While in Madison, he and Ruth had 3 more children – son Greg in 1959, and twins Audrey and Aaron in 1961. The growing family stayed in Madison until 1969, when Sam accepted a job at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in Washington D.C. where he served in various roles before becoming Executive Vice President in 1980. At the time of Sam’s retirement in 1997, his 17-year stint as full-time Chief Executive was longer than anyone prior. His 27 years of service as an NCARB employee was the longest of any other registered architect. During his tenure, he implemented many key programs, including the Professional Degree Requirement, the Internship Development Program, the Architect Registration Examination and the Professional Development Program. He was also instrumental in working with other nations, exerting an enormous positive influence on the architectural profession worldwide. As one colleague put it, he got a lot accomplished and had a great time doing it. After retirement, Sam designed and built his and Ruth’s dream house in the small coastal Oregon town of Waldport, where they lived until 2017. While there, Sam was active in the neighborhood home owner’s association, and Waldport’s planning commission. They moved to Colorado in June 2017 due to declining health and to be closer to family. Sam and Ruth loved to travel, and travel they did, both throughout his career with NCARB and after. They visited all over the US, plus Canada and Mexico, the Caribbean, many European countries, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, India, Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand, all the while collecting fine art and making friends and memories everywhere they went. Sam was preceded in death by his wife Ruth in February 2018. She died from complications of influenza and Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his four children and their families, son Mike and daughter-in-law Alison Balen of Reston, Virginia, son Greg and daughter-in-law Beth Balen of Arvada, Colorado, daughter Audrey and son-in-law Don Besden of Alexandria, Virginia, son Aaron Balen, of Silver Spring, Maryland, granddaughters (from Mike and Alison) Emily and Eliza Balen of Portland, Oregon, grandsons (from Greg and Beth) Jay Gillespie of Poulsbo, Washington, and Garrett Balen of South Lake Tahoe, California, grandson and granddaughter (from Audrey and Don) Sam Besden and Leah Besden of Alexandria, Virginia, and great grandsons Matteus and Malcom (from Jay and his wife Tina). In Lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to the American Cancer Society and/or the Alzheimer’s Association in the name of Samuel and Ruth Balen. Cards can be sent care of Greg Balen at 14260 West 71st Ave., Arvada, CO 80004.