The Rt. Rev. David Standish Ball, Seventh Bishop of Albany and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, died peacefully on the afternoon of April 18.
A native of Albany, he was a graduate of Colgate University and General Theological Seminary. He was ordained deacon and priest in 1953.
Bishop Ball began his ordained ministry as a curate at Bethesda Church in Saratoga Springs, serving there until 1956, when he was made canon sacrist at the Cathedral of All Saints. He served three years as canon sacrist and two years as canon precentor, and was elected dean of the cathedral in 1960. He served as dean for 23 years.
He was elected Bishop coadjutor of Albany in 1983 and consecrated in 1984. Soon after becoming bishop, he established the Step Out in Faith campaign, which raised several million dollars for the diocese. He was known for supporting hospitals, nursing homes, schools, St. Margaret’s Center for Children, and ministries among the poor and the homeless.
He retired as bishop in 1998.
