KITTERY – Elsie G. Balano, 78, died peacefully Nov. 4, 2010, at her home. Elsie was born March 28, 1932, in Camp Hill, Pa., daughter of the late Arthur N. and Mary E. (Klepper) Gage. Elsie attended schools in the Pittsburgh area and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, majoring in fine arts. Thereafter, Elsie worked as a commercial artist for U.S. Steel, Pittsburgh; Barrington Associates, New York City; as well as a freelance artist for Mobil Oil and International Paper Co., New York City. In 1960 Elsie was married to James W. Balano, who predeceased her. Elsie’s numerous paintings and collages were inspired by scenes from her many travels throughout Europe and the U.S. Her work has been on exhibit in Vienna, Austria; Darmstadt, Germany; Washington, D.C.; Campione d’Italia, Switzerland; and throughout Downeast Maine. Surviving Elsie is a daughter, Elsie Caroline Heningham and her husband, Michael, of Fiskdale, Mass.; two sons, John Balano of Tracys Landing, Md., and Richard Balano and his wife, Kimberly, of Kittery; four grandsons, Sean and Brennan Heningham of Fiskdale, Mass., and Oliver and Christopher Balano of Kittery; two brothers, Norman Edward Gage of Connecticut and Richard Klepper Gage of North Carolina; and a sister, Amy Skallerup of Washington. At Elsie’s request, services will be held privately at the convenience of her family. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are encouraged to forward memorials to The Living Bank, P.O. Box 6725, Houston, TX 77265. Care for Elsie’s family has been entrusted to J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, Kittery.
ELSIE BRICKER GAGE BALANO
