Milner S. Ball ’58

The class lost Milner April 6, 2011 in Athens, Ga., after a brave fight with Parkinson’s disease. We will be diminished by his absence. His contributions in law and the ministry were of national and worldwide dimension, with a particular focus on the disadvantaged and underrepresented members of society as well as the environment.

After Princeton, Milner attended Harvard Divinity School, graduating at the top of his class. (Later he earned a law degree.) A Fulbright fellow, representative to the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment, law professor at Rutgers and Georgia, author of four books, university chaplain, delegate to the Democratic convention, and pursuer of excellence in marathons/triathlons, he at times seemed larger than life.

At Princeton, he was a member of Cottage Club, a Chapel deacon, Keyceptor, president of the Westminster Foundation, and vice president of the Press Club. At various times he roomed with Scott Sudduth, Ralph DeGroff, John Sawhill, Joe Nye, Desaix Anderson, and John Nowell.

Milner was raised in Nashville and graduated from Hillsboro High School. He and his wife of 51 years, June, a Wellesley graduate, were dating while we were in college. He is survived by June; son Milner; daughters Virginia Ball and Sarah Ball-Danberg; and five grandchildren, to whom the class sends deepest sympathy.