Westfield, MA – Philip Hosmer Ball III, “Terry.” March 2, 1954 – April 23, 2026.
Terry wrote the words below in February of this year for his Middlebury College reunion. Nothing could be better here than Terry’s own words:
—
“Hello to everyone. Sorry I can’t join you at our 50th.
I always considered myself “Lucky.”
I skied Portillo and Aspen and Tuckerman’s, climbed Mount Rainier and Grand Teton, biked from Jackson Hole to Denver, rolled marathons in NY City, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Burlington (eight times), scuba dived Cozumel, kayaked white water, and even ski coached from my Honda 4Wheeler.
My luckiest was meeting & marrying my wife, Katia, 20 years ago, long BEFORE she donated me a kidney 11 years ago. Talk about a match!¡!
For those who don’t know, I broke my back at T-5 in 1982. I crashed my hang glider on a gusty day.
I did well (or got away with it) generally even through the past 42 years of paraplegic life. I’ve stayed happy and active and positive. Killington even gave me season passes so I could tear up Double Dipper and Superstar in my Monoski. (Good PR.)
We live on a pond in Westfield, Mass. Actually we live less than four miles from the intersection of Routes 90 and 91. Our house is a wonderful, all-natural wood interior, one level house with skylights, decks, and ramps. I love the smell of late afternoon sunlight on wooden walls and corners in our house. It’s almost like cookies or bread. We absolutely love never having to mow our pond or pull the shades.
Because of my kidney transplant and immunosuppressant drugs, I/we were extremely cautious and prepared for COVID but eventually I got COVID and my luck ran elsewhere.
I nearly died and ended up spending over a year in the hospital with a decubitus on my (as my wife puts it) “cute little butt.” We’ve been slowly healing for three years and are gaining ground. I’m finally able to get back into my tool shed.
Although I liked climbing up into and driving my 4×4 Jimmy, I’m now in a HP Honda Odyssey. It’s great to be “On the Road Again.” I’m hoping to meet up with any and all of our Middlebury class who wish. If you’re passing through western Massachusetts, give me a call.
We’d love to see you.”
—
Now, words from his family:
Terry was born in Greenfield and grew up with the blessings of family and community in Old Deerfield.
Amazingly, even after a spinal cord injury in July of 1982, Terry was back to flying down the ski slopes. How? Seated on a monoski. Interviewed on the mountain he told a reporter: “My life is now like a deck of cards. This is the hand that was dealt to me, and I have to learn how to play it.”
Terry sure did! With gusto, creativity, mighty good humor, and so much love.
Terry’s choice for his final hand was to accept comfort care, at home in Westfield, looking out at the pond, holding hands with his loving wife Katia. His organs failed. He ‘traveled to the peaceful valley ahead’ in the early morning of April 23, 2026. They were holding hands.
Skiing was a through line in Terry’s life. Even before turning two he was already on skis at the family’s rope-tow Mohawk Trail Skiway. No staying home with a babysitter! As an Eaglebrook middle school student, Terry won the all-around “Skimeister” award. Post-injury in 1983, his own ski coach, mentor, and Headmaster Stuart Chase, offered Terry the perfect job, Eaglebrook ski coach! Back on the same hill (and off!) he was brilliant. Aspiring ski jumpers and racers found that Terry was always there for them in unexpected wonderful ways.
Other than skiing, summer camps in Vermont were fertile ground for growth, joy, and pride. At Camp Lanakila, founded and directed by his grandmother Carol Hulbert, and Wohika with Bob Easton, Terry learned lasting life-lessons.
At Deerfield Academy he delighted in pole vaulting and singing in the Glee Club with Doc. Schuler, not to mention academic learning.
Some remember Terry, pre-injury, as Greenfield’s first ‘five shirt’ contra-dancer; for comfort and courtesy he switched out sweaty shirts for dry ones. With a special partner, he spun holes in the floor.
To start their ’06 wedding, our man Terry rolled onto the Majestic Theater stage in a tux, up in a wheelie!! Wow! We all jumped up to cheer. (Later he reflected: “I got a standing O at my own wedding!”) On the stage, beautiful Katia in a white gown, sat down, side by side, heart by heart, eye to eye, with her man.
Fast forward through great thriving years to Covid.
Terry’s last three plus years, required too much damn time in bed. Even so, with the unflagging support of his Saint Katia, his good nature prevailed, hers too! During extended stays at the Holyoke Medical Center, employees from kitchen staff to surgeons, regularly turned up to visit with Terry and Katia, off the clock! So very few medical professionals know enough about the complexities of paraplegic medical care. But some were lucky enough to learn from the vast, direct personal experience of (drum-role) the ‘Doctors’ Balls!
Terry was predeceased by his mother, Harriet Hulbert Ball, “Hattie” in 2021 at 98, and by his father, Philip Hosmer Ball Jr. in 1975, at 56, while grooming a cross country ski trail on Pocumtuck Mountain for a race he was about to judge. Terry’s grandfather also died at 56. On Terry’s own 56th birthday, he told Katia his skiing days were over.
Terry is survived by his wife, Katia Forgette Ball; by his two sisters, Carol Ball (Randie Handleman) and shel Ball (Gary); by his nephews, Abel Silva III (Lydia) and Philip Silva (Jessica Corwin); by his great nephews and great niece, Abel Silva IV, Josie Silva, and Peter Silva; by his mother-in law Joselyne Forgette (Rick); by his bothers and sisters in-law, George (Kathy), Kim (Bob), Kristin (Jamie); by Katia’s children, whom he loved as his own, Nicole Moody (Rob), Nadine Moody (Scott), Daniel Moody (Charissa) and Kevin Moody; by Katia’s grandchildren, also beloved as his own, Giuseppe, Saylem, Milaniya, Calysa, Clayton, and Casen; by his loving dog Bailey and cat Cali; and by his best bud, Doc.
Friends all over remember Terry’s full tilt go-for-it spirit, his love of life undimmed by his physical challenges, and then expanded exponentially by his heart-liftingest love with Katia. Dearest Katia, no words can express what you gave Terry.
If you wish to contribute in honor of Terry, consider a memorial donation to:
Stavros Center for Independent Living, 210 Old Farm Road, Amherst, MA 01004, https://www.stavros.org/donate
Or toast Terry, with a margarita with a friend.
All who love Terry are welcome to a joyous WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE Celebration of Terry Ball’s Life. Please join us on May 30, 1pm-4pm at Eaglebrook School, 271 Pine Nook Road, Deerfield, MA. Bring your photos and stories!
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes