Settimia ' Tina ' (Palumbo) Balko

HOLDEN – Settimia “Tina” (Palumbo) Balko, 93, died peacefully on Saturday, January 10, 2015, at the Lutheran Home of Worcester. She was born in New Canaan, CT, a daughter of the late Nicola and Antonia (Delfini) Palumbo.

Tina graduated from New Canaan High School, Russell Sage College, Troy, NY and later studied for her Master's Degree in French at Assumption College. Following graduation from college, Tina began teaching in Troy before returning to New Canaan where she taught French for 4 years. She then began working in the airline industry, first as a sales manager for American Airline in Philadelphia and then as a district sales manager for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in New York City. She then settled in Holden with her family and returned to her teaching roots after her children were grown. She started working at Wachusett Regional High School as a substitute social studies teacher and then continued a 20-year career teaching French, retiring in 1986. Even to the present, her former students still refer to her, and address her, as “Madam Balko.” She loved languages, was fluent in English, Italian, and French, and also spoke Spanish and Latin. A gifted public speaker, Tina taught for the Dale Carnegie Program in the 1940’s and 50’s. She won a national competition and was presented the prize by Mr. Carnegie himself, and still has the award to this day. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. Tina was a member of the Cavendish Bridge Club, the Great Books Club at the Gale Free Public Library in Holden and was active with the Rice School PTA when her children were attending there. Her favorite activity, however, was being with family and enjoying the repartee that family gatherings, of any size, generated.

She leaves her three beloved children, George A. Balko III of Holden, John B. Balko of Florida and James B. Nicola of New York City, NY; her two cherished grandchildren, Douglas Balko of New Haven, CT and Kristi Gauthier of Strongsville, OH; her sister, Maria Gerber and her husband, Norris of Arlington, VA.

Tina’s family wishes to thank the many, too many to mention by name, care givers of the Lutheran Home and St. Vincent Hospital, who cared for her with love and kindness. Our thanks can never repay the wonderful people whose devoted attention made Tina’s last months as joyful and pleasant as possible.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Tina’s family on Thursday, January 15, from 4-7 p.m. at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte.122A), Holden. Her funeral will be held on Friday, January 16, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial held at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Church, Princeton Street, Jefferson. Burial will follow in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Holden. To share a memory or to leave an online condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" on this page.