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Ian Matheson Ballard, 78, physician

Ian Matheson Ballard, 78, a physician and a resident of Radnor before moving to Bryn Mawr in 2011, died Monday, Nov. 30, from complications of pneumonia at Lankenau Hospital.

Ian Matheson Ballard
Ian Matheson BallardRead more

Ian Matheson Ballard, 78, a physician and a resident of Radnor before moving to Bryn Mawr in 2011, died Monday, Nov. 30, from complications of pneumonia at Lankenau Hospital.

He and wife Helen Clothier Ballard celebrated their 33d wedding anniversary on April 16.

Born in Fairview Village, he was the son of Herbert T. Ballard Jr. and Margaret Matheson Ballard.

Dr. Ballard graduated from Mercersburg Academy, Lafayette College, and Temple University School of Medicine. He served an internship and his internal medicine residency at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem.

He also was a Navy veteran, serving with the U.S. Medical Corps, and later in the Navy Reserve, until retiring with the rank of commander.

Dr. Ballard started out practicing internal medicine in Bethlehem.

After moving to Radnor in 1971, he served in several senior clinical research roles at Merck, Sharp & Dohme Corp. and then Wyeth Laboratories, where he was executive director for global safety surveillance.

Dr. Ballard was perhaps most proud of cofounding with D. Stratton Woodruff Jr. in 1975 the Bryn Mawr Family Practice Residency program, where as mentor and adviser he shaped the careers of numerous young physicians. He remained a faculty member until his death.

Dr. Ballard also served as an assistant professor in the family medicine department at Jefferson University School of Medicine and was an active member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and a charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice.

He served as a director at Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Wayne Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Home Health Corporation of America.

Dr. Ballard was a member of the Radnor Township Board of Health, Merion Cricket Club, and Merion Golf Club. He served with several Masonic and Scottish heritage organizations and was on the local executive council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a proud Eagle Scout.

A former member of the Presbyterian Church, he joined St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne in 1971.

Dr. Ballard enjoyed reading, traveling, and beekeeping behind his home in Radnor. He kept bees as a boy and resumed the hobby as an adult.

Dr. Ballard also cherished time spent with family at his vacation home in Small Point, Maine.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Jill Ballard Hamilton; a son, Ian Matheson Jr.; eight grandchildren; a sister; and his former wife, Paula Staples Ballard. A daughter, Jennifer Ballard Koch, died earlier.

He also is survived by stepson William Hoffman, stepdaughters Louise Gallagher and Kristin Dennehy, nine step-grandchildren, and two step-great-grandchildren.

Services were Saturday, Dec. 5.

Donations may be made to the Bryn Mawr Hospital Family Practice, c/o Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation, 130 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010, or to the Salvation Army, 6730 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19128. The latter should be labeled "in memory of Dr. Ian Ballard."

bcook@phillynews.com

610-313-8102