About Rich

Richard Ballo has been a professional writer since 1980. Today he is a popular national speaker and book author who specializes in the topic of death and dying, grief, bereavement and healing.

Rich holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Suffolk University in Boston. His general interest articles have appeared in the Montachusett Review, Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, Neapolitan Families, Byline Magazine, Suffolk Evening Voice, Retrop Times, The Lynn Daily Item, The Waltham News Tribune, Florida Kiwanian and BMW ON Magazine.

He is the author of the award winning book Life Without Lisa: A Widowed Father’s Compelling Journey Through the Rough Seas of Grief. It is based on the loss of his beloved wife Lisa at age 38 and chronicles his healing journey.

After Lisa died from cancer, he was left to single parent their two sons Nick, five and Victor, six. He was beyond bereft; writer’s block overwhelmed him and threatened to smother him in an avalanche of frustration, grief and abject suffering. Little did he realize that the journal he had been writing to record his thoughts, feelings and experiences one day would be published as an award-winning book that would serve as a beacon of hope for others charting their way through the black waters of grief.

He has spoken to numerous hospice groups about healing grief including Hospice of Hilo, HI, Hospice of the Valley, San Juan, CA, Wings of Hope Hospice, Allegan, MI, and Charlotte Hospice, Charlotte, NC, as well as many churches, libraries and hospitals.

He has been a guest on over 50 radio stations in the U.S including KKUP Cupertino, California, WXZO Kalamazoo, Michigan, WFLO Farmville, Virginia, WQQQ Lakeville, Connecticut, WOCA News Talk 1370 AM Ocala, Florida, KPQ 560 AM Greater Seattle, WNTN Boston, MA, and KLPW-AM St. Louis.

He has also appeared on television, including Fox News, and has met many fans at book signings at bookstores across the country including Barnes and Nobles and Borders.

Rich serves on the Board of Directors and the Physicians’ Advisory Board of Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida. Recently Avow bestowed The Butterfly Award on him in recognition of his meaningful work at Avow and in the community at large.

He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Northside Naples since 1995 where he has served as newsletter editor, a distinguished Secretary, and Past President.

Richard continues to speak on grief and healing around the country at hospices, churches, and libraries. For bulk-rate discounts on his book or to bring Richard to your organization as a guest speaker to help you heighten community awareness of your organization and its services, contact Rich or his publisher, Quality of Life Publishing, at 1-877-513-0099 or email Books@QoLpublishing.com.