Nicolas Balli

Nicolas Balli passed away on January 22, 2021 at Sunrise Hospital. Each immediate family member was able to visit him there, in person or by cell phone, before he  peacefully transferred into heaven at the age of 86. His daughter and grandson were by his side. He was a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada for over 25 years.

Nicolas was born in Brownsville, Texas, to Jose Maria Balli and Concepcion Naranjo Balli on February 23,1934. He was the last child born to his parents, a blessing that came in their later years. He was one of six children: Pedro Balli, Concepcion Venable, Dolores Anzalldua, Guadalupe Ramirez, and Ray Balli. He had a very close relationship with his mother.

Nick, as he also liked to be called, enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 to help his aging parents financially. He completed his training at the Hawaiin Infantry Training Center in 1951. He was wounded twice in the Korean War. The first time, he survived the wound but came home a different man, having had an experience with fellow soldier, Pvt. Robert Sullivan who died at his side. Nick spent a good deal of time looking for Sullivan’s family to tell them how he had impacted his life. He was never able to locate them. The second time Nick was wounded, he was promoted to E6, sergeant status. He brought home two Purple Hearts and spent a total of 13 years in the armed forces.

Nicolas married Bertha Helen Prieto in 1963. They had four children, Michele, Brenda, Nicole, and a son Christiaan. They bought a house on Pocono Street in Valinda, California. Nick and Bertha were married for 14 years.

Nicolas attended Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California and earned dual degrees, an Associate of Arts in General Education and an Associate of Science in Electronics while supporting a family of six. 

Nick worked for the United States Post office, preferring to be a carrier in the El Sereno area because he loved interacting with people. While on his route, he did keep a fire under control on the roof of a retired Los Angeles Fire Department captain. Captain Reuter sent a stellar letter commending Nick’s bravery, and it was posted in The Los Angeles Postal Spectrum in August 1978. He worked for the post office for 20 years and retired in 1990.

Nick moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993. He landed a job at Silverton Hotel and Casino (known as Boomtown at the time) as a porter. He loved his work there because he was such a people person. He enjoyed his work so much that he earned Silverton’s “Best of the West,” the employee of the year award in 1998. He worked for Silverton approximately 10 years. 

Nick’s retirement years were fulfilling for him. For many years, he volunteered for the Catholic Worker in East Las Vegas. He would join a group there to make breakfast for hundreds of homeless people and then serve them. He invited his children and adult  grandchildren to help in this endeavor, and they obliged.

Nick enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends. He loved to call, text, and write letters, but his favorite way to communicate was talking to people one-on-one. He was never too busy to listen, teach, or take care of someone. He loved to play chess and fish. He appreciated all types of music, and so, of course, he was a great dancer, often seen cutting the rug with his West Coast Swing on senior nights. He had a green thumb, and there is a wonderful story that was always told about this fact. Nick had potted a cutting of a plant, placing a stick next to it for support as it grew. Well, the plant died, but the stick sprouted roots! He loved the arts, taking his children and grandchildren to events and recently treating them to see Shen Yun at the Smith Center. He relished taking his family to movies and going out to eat. He loved his native tongue and was proud that he could speak both Spanish and English fluently and eloquently. And, oh, how he loved to laugh, always finding a spot in a conversation to insert a joke or pun.

Nick was a history buff, perhaps boltered by his extensive historical legacy to Padre Island, Texas and Padre Nicolas Balli, whose statue is erected there. Being able to trace the Balli family to the Renaissance times gave him great pride, as it should.

Nick is survived by one sister, Guadalupe Ramirez; four children, Michele Tasabia (Jonathan Tasabia), Brenda Pease (Jim Pease), Nicole Emsley, and Christiaan Balli (Shayna Balli); seven grandchildren, Justine Vargas, Krista Frye, Angelene Tasabia, Jonathon Tasabia, Megan Pease, Cameron Balli, and Riley Balli, and two great-grandchildren, Ryker Leo Frye and Micah Nicolas Frye.

Nick’s greatest joy was his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but Nick felt that his life had been spared so that he could do what he considered was his God-appointed work for the Pro-Life ministry. His greatest disappointment was that the US, the country he had fought for, had turned its back on the “least of these.” He knew how precious life was, and he fought for the rights of the unborn through many church affiliations and personally writing members of the clergy as well as politicians throughout his lifetime. Nick believed that the mother’s womb should be the safest place in the world, for babies do not know the nature of their conception, only that they are nestled in a place that God addresses in His Word: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" Jeremiah 1:5. Nick always used his voice to speak boldly for the voiceless. 

Nicolas Balli’s service was held at Davis Funeral Home in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 17, 2021. He had an additional service at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery where he was interred with full honors. His request of receiving a 21-gun salute was granted by the Veterans Service Officers along with his wish to be buried among his heroes, those who have served our country dauntlessly and courageously. 

The family of Nicolas Balli wishes to thank all of his friends and family for all the flowers and cards, stories and tears that they have shared about their beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. They could not have endured this journey without your love and support. A special thanks to Traci Orlieb at Davis Funeral Home for her steadfast devotion in helping Nicolas' family give him a unique send-off as befitting to him.

Nick’s other “hero” was St. Paul the apostle. He often referred to his teachings and his verses. 

2 Timothy 4:7

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Philippians 3:13

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”

Philippians 3:7

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-54

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed by victory.

O death, where is thy sting? 

O grave, where is thy victory?”