In Loving Memory
ROBIN BALCH
PRESCOTT
1927 – 2021
Robin Balch Prescott, 94, of Miami FL, New York City NY, and Lovell ME, died on 27 November 2021 of complications from heart disease. She was the daughter of Thomas Vickroy Balch and Almeda Trout Balch of Shaker Heights, OH and Vero Beach, FL. Robin spent her childhood years in Shaker Heights where, at the age of 14, she met her true love, John Sherwin Prescott Jr. They married shortly after college and spent their honeymoon in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Over the years they continued to return to New England, bringing their four children mountain climbing during summer vacations.
Robin had a huge curiosity about the world. She was an early feminist and always worked outside the home. She earned a PhD while her children were young and worked in the field of speech science and audiology as a speech therapist, a clinical manager at a children’s hospital, and as a college professor. In the 1970s she was an early advocate of Cued Speech (an alternative to American Sign Language) and contributed to research and development in the field. In her 80s, she made one final contribution, offering some original ideas for the expansion of cued hand signs. She called the project Experimental Cueing.
In 1983, Robin and John bought an old farmhouse on Kezar Lake in Lovell, Maine, which became the gathering place for family and friends over the next almost 40 years. Both Robin and John were interested in environmental protection and became active members of the Greater Lovell Land Trust. Eventually, Robin put their Lovell property into a conservation easement, protecting it from future development and keeping it as a natural habitat for wildlife.
Robin also loved music. Throughout her life she played the recorder, and after retirement, she advanced her skills, participating and performing in early Renaissance music groups in New York City.
In the final years of her life, as her mind turned more and more to contemplating her childhood and adolescence, Robin often talked about her memories of Aloha Camp in Fairlee, VT. Of all her education and summer experiences (including graduating valedictorian from Laurel School in Cleveland, graduating from Vassar College, working as a teacher one summer on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, obtaining a master’s degree from Boston University and a PhD from Wayne State University in Detroit), she said that being a camper at Aloha was the most formative and enriching experience of her life.
Robin was predeceased by her son Jake (1955–2002) and her husband John (1927–2008). She is survived by her three living children: Ann (husband Peter Heinz), Lyle, and Robert (wife Duff Pacifico), and seven grandchildren: Gabriel Moreno, Camille Moreno, Andre Prescott, Holly Heinz, Ana Prescott, Emily Rose, and John Prescott. Great grandchildren include Carolina Prescott and Mia Prescott. She is also survived by her two brothers, John Balch (wife Rita Breath) and Tom Balch, as well as several nieces and nephews.
A private memorial gathering is being planned for Summer 2022. Donations in her name can be made to the Aloha Foundation (alohafoundation.org/donate or 802-333-3400) or The Greater Lovell Land Trust (gllt.org/donate-here or 207-925-1056). Memories and condolences are welcome at RememberingRobinBalchPrescott.com or mailed to Ann Prescott, P.O. Box 60, Lovell, ME 04051.
Ann, Peter and Holly,
Very sorry for this sad news. Robin was an incredible woman, way ahead of her time. She and her loving husband raised a remarkable family. It is a tribute to her strength, character, brains and beauty that all of her children and grandchildren are such accomplished people. Robin’s legacy lives on in her beautiful family.
Condolences to Lyle, Annie and Robin’s loving family. It was my honor and pleasure to share brief yet quality time with Robin in her later years in Manhattan and Miami. She inspired my curiosity in playing the recorder and in staying fit after 90. Will never forget her marveling at the parasails on Miami Beach. Her legacy strength and spirit are inspiring. Wish I had known her much longer. Thanks to Robin for her strength and spirit and all she did while here!
Dear Lyle,
Dear Ann and Robert,
I am so sorry to hear this news.
Robin was always a serene, calming, certain presence in my world. The first image that comes to mind is her entering into the kitchen and conversation in the NYC apartment; can’t remember the conversation but still feel her gracious and easy engagement in what we were talking about, adding to it – illuminating with a smile, perhaps a wry one at that.
But also memories from Philly and DC, always in the house, light filled lovely places.
This piece is a gentle thumbnail description of a wonderful life. I have been contemplating what are ‘places of learning’ in human lives, and clearly for Robin those were everywhere, but it is especially sweet that towards the end, her favorite place to dwell was summer camp.
This is a transition that will be with you always.
Much love to all of you,
Gordon
From Lauren Sargent:
Hugs to you Prescotts. I hope your mom has looked up my mom in the great unfathomable. Memories of hikes in the White Mountains and exploring your attic in Grosse Pointe are some of my most cherished childhood memories. I also recall fondly your parents welcoming me and 3 HS friends to their elegant table in Georgetown, fresh off a camping trip in the Smokies & Black Hills (me—not your parents). I was delivering a cello and picking up a case of Chardonnay. My introduction to actually good white wine was at their table. Your mom was patient and gracious when my companions table manners (not to mention sartorial ensemble) left much to be desired. Class, humor, erudition, and love for this world and all her inhabitants—this is how I think of all the Prescotts.
From Sis Kaplan:
My love to all the family. So sorry for your loss. We will all miss Robin.
From Pete Bansen:
So sorry for your loss, Ann. I remember your Mom with fondness and she was very gracious when Patty Wellenbach and I put a large dent in her car after hitting ice on a bridge while helping Jesse Parker escape from Lawrenceville Academy one Friday night… Holding her family and friends in the Light.
From Tom Vickers:
Such sad news…loved both your Mom and Dad!
From Cilla Mead:
So sorry. I remember your mom was so nice!! You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
From Elise A. Bloustein:
Dear Ann, I send my deepest condolences to you and your family. I think I only met your mom once or twice but she was such a spark of life. The memory of her brilliance and curiosity and full engagement has always stuck with me. Like Max, I appreciate that you had so many years with her and I am very sorry for your loss.
From Maxwell MacKenzie:
I am so sorry for your loss.
From my point of view, you were really lucky to have your Mother for so many years.
My own passed away 7 years ago, at age 87.
I miss her every day.
From Ellen Sokoloff Warner:
It’s kind of odd that even though I hadn’t seen your mom in years when I saw the announcement in the Times and then on FB a profound sadness enveloped me. I thought about the times we were together on South Miami Ave and of course I thought a lot about your dad too.
From Robert Vickers:
So sorry to hear this sad news . Robin was quite a force and was always kind and engaging with me . RIP
From Elaine Nina Tanay:
I am so sorry. I remember her well: beautiful vibrant full of life: interested and interesting. As a child she shared her study of dolphin sounds with me. She was fascinating. I remember a story of her taking you three in your PJs at night somewhere exciting and fun. I wish you, Lyle and Robert peace and love, truly from my heart.
From Lisanne Dion:
Annie I’m deeply sorry for your loss. I never met your mom but you told me about her many times so I feel like I knew her. She was a very special person and my heart goes out to you, Lyle, Robert, the grandkids, and the whole family. I’m sending courage and hugs your way.
From Wendy D’Ambrose:
A great lady—so ahead of her time! I will remember her always with deep love & admiration. And now she is on “the other side” with John & Jake. Rest easy dear, beloved, Robin. ♥️🥀
From Sharon Hale:
Dear Ann, thanks for sharing this beautiful picture of your mom who was truly a remarkable person. She knew how to live life to the hilt with its joys, adventures and sorrows. I considered Robin to be a special friend whom I was fortunate to have through family.
My heart is warmed knowing that her beloved children were with as she transitioned. Much love to you, Lyle, Robert and other family members
From Ned Hale:
Thank you Ann for posting this beautiful picture of Robin. I have so many wonderful memories of her and picture her smile on my mind just like her smile here. I wish we could have been with you all there in Florida, and regret not being able to fly down to Miami to see her a year ago April as we’d planned, because of Covid. Ned
From Elaine Nina Tanay:
I just can’t stop thinking about your wonderful mom.. It really was magic to go over to your big house and play. Another memory I have is of your mother‘s smile: it reminded me of Jackie Kennedy’s smile… I felt safe with your mom: fun but steady unlike mine. that memory of her waking you to take you somewhere fun just stuck with me as what a cool mom she was. That era came alive as I thought of your mother and her vibrant palpable joy. I don’t remember the smile from any other of my parents’ friends or mine: that says it all. She loved you kids so much. May her memory be a blessing.
Ama (as we knew her) has been a larger-than-life figure in our family for my whole life. Looking back, she and John were the bedrock of all those summers in Lovell and I will always cherish the stories lived and told about Ama.
My grandmother was instrumental in my dream of becoming an Airline Pilot and she was always supportive of her grandchildren and their aspirations. She was supportive of newer members to the family like my wife, Stephanie and her education and aspirations. This is not to say she did not have her strong opinions! Ama would never shy away from giving her (sometimes brutally) honest opinions and career advice.
We will miss Ama dearly but she will live on through our stories about her to our kids and grandkids.
We love you Ama. Rest in peace.
– Mia, Carolina, Stephanie and Andre
I’m sorry to hear the sad news. My heart goes out to Lyle, Gabriel, Camille and the rest of the family. I never met Robin but Lyle has told me delightful stories about her and the place in Lovell, Maine. She will be missed.
Aunt Robin was a cheerful, calm and encouraging friend. She was a thoughtful, tender and gentle person. Early on in my childhood, Uncle John, and
especially Nana (Hale) and Aunt Jane were the people I got most excited about seeing on summer vacations out East. But as I look back, it was when Uncle John and Aunt Robin got the property on Hatch Hill that my relationship with Aunt Robin began to develop and my memories of her started to take shape. By that time in my life, I was starting high school and getting good at bassoon, so a common interest in playing chamber music emerged. She introduced me to Renaissance recorder music, and we’d take a few stabs at it together whenever I would visit.
The summer vacations that my family had with your family were always something I looked forward to and delighted in. I think Aunt Robin probably deserves a lot of credit for keeping that going. That welcome extended beyond Hatch Hill. When my graduate studies in music took me to NYC, she and Uncle John also welcomed me for visits and family get-togethers at their home on W. 77th Street. Living in NYC felt more inviting to me because of them.
Aunt Robin was more than welcoming to me, though. She was also encouraging. When my career took a big hit about ten years later, Aunt Robin urged me to keep playing. I had the feeling that she valued my abilities in music, and that she felt it was a loss if I didn’t continue playing.
I’m glad I was able to see her happy, comfortable and well cared for in Florida when Erin and I visited her and Lyle two years ago. I think it had been a long time since she’d even looked at her recorders, but when I got out my bassoon and she was able to sort out how to put one of her big recorders together, we were able play one last time together—“The Girl from Ipanema,” among other things—and after some good conversation about family, we got to enjoy a meal together with Lyle, Gabo, his partner, and Erin my wife, all her treat.
Aunt Robin was a blessing to me. She’s gone on now, but she’s left a big part of herself behind, for which I am also grateful…her children (and grandchildren!).