I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Balle, while at the dermatologist in Troy, on September 13, 2024. 
Dr. Balle did my Mohs surgery 3 times. 
June, 2016, April, 2019, September 2022. 
He was a kind and gentle man. He had compassion and spent time answering all my questions before and after the procedure. 
He was always reassuring that everything would be ok and it was. He was always positive and had a warm and sincere smile on his face.
He will be truly missed. 
God Bless his wife and family and give you strength as they adjust to life without him.

Dr. Balle performed Mohs surgery on me three different times over the space of 20 years. The last time was exactly 40 years to the day from when he received his medical degree. I pointed that out in his office because I could see his diploma on the wall. He got a kick out of that. He always made me feel like I was the only patient he had, even though there was a waiting room full. He reminded me of my father, who was also a kind and caring surgeon. RIP

To the Dear Balle Family,
I just heard the news about Mark. I’m Dr. Audrey Bruell, a fellow dermatologist in the Livonia area for over 25 years. My association with Mark began at Wayne State University. We did our pre- med training there and took many of the same classes together. It continued when I opened my derm practice in Livonia. He was a fantastic Moh’s surgeon and wonderful human being. He was the only one I would refer my patients to, knowing for certain they would love him. He treated everyone with respect, kindness, and he was a terrific surgeon.  The world has lost a truly great man. So very sad.  I feel very sorry for your loss. Sounds like you gave each other three wonderful children, who I hope that with each passing year continue to hear stories about how remarkable and extraordinary their Dad was.  He will surely be missed.  My very best to your family.
Audrey Bruell, MD.  
(248)701-4039

So sorry to hear about Dr. Balle. He was a great mentor and person and was a big part of our Henry Ford experience!   I still say: "hopefully this will do it" and some of his lines. I can picture him saying some of his lines with a smile! It does leave a big empty space in our hearts! We will carry on his legacy with things we learned from him and feel fortunate to have had that opportunity!  Big loss for all of us! He is in my prayers.

Camile Hexsel, MD
Mohs Surgeon that trained with him in residency

One of the kindest, gentlest, and most generous people I have ever had the honor of working for. A skilled doctor, wonderful mentor and teacher, proud family man, and an endless source of knowledge.  His thoughtfulness  was legendary. 
It was a genuine pleasure to call him boss for the past 12 years.  He will be missed terribly.

My name is Steve Londo. I am a primary patient of Dr. Mark's brother, Dr, David Balle. I came to know Dr, Mark as the result of a referral from his Brother. Dr. Mark was a good guy and I'm am deeply saddened that he has left us. He was patient, kind, and wonderful to his staff, And even though my occasions to see him were for serious things, those times were always accompanied with pleasantness, laughter, and positivity. The ultimate legacy we can leave is that we touched as many people in a positive way. Dr. Mark touched me in that way and my life is fuller because of it. May God bless the Balle family.

So sorry to hear this news, but also so grateful for the personal and professional impact Dr Balle has had on me as a young surgeon, and surely countless other dermatologists and surgeons around the world. He will be dearly missed.

My sincere condolences to the entire Family on Marks passing, (I just learned today). I first met Dr Balle at HFH downtown for Mohs surgery many moons ago. I followed him to HF West Bloomfield and and then to Columbia  Center Novi. As a frequent flyer at Mohs, we always had a joke or story to share.
His compassion and expertise in his field made his patients very comfortable.
He will be truly missed.
JJ Buccellato (Agnes)

My deepest condolences to Dr. Balle’s family, it was such a pleasure working with Dr Balle in Mohs Surgery.. Such a kind person and easy to with with.
Olivia

I was honored and blessed to have known and worked closely with Dr. Mark Balle. It is very hard to meet someone as equally impressive, smart, and kind as Mark. He was a pioneer in the field of Mohs surgery; and his smile never left him even in the toughest situations. His legacy as a mentor, and as a kind caring man for his colleagues and patients will remain in our hearts and minds.

Dear Balle Family,

I have known Mark since residency at Henry Ford, but after that  would only get to see him at Michigan Derm meetings. He was the kindest person, who was always genuinely interested in how my family and I were doing. I am so sad that I will never get to see his smiling face again. I am so sorry for your loss.

Eva Youshock MD

Dr. Mark Balle was an incredible mentor and colleague. He taught me how to lead my clinic, how to speak to patients with kindness and compassion and how to find happiness in medicine. I think of him almost daily as I have adopted so many of his euphemisms when speaking with patients. He loved teaching residents and his positive attitude and joy for patient care was infectious. He was a gift to those around him and will be missed greatly.

Mark cared for so many of my and my parents’ patients through his work in Mohs surgery. Patients loved his gentle nature. We appreciated his excellent care of patients and that he was always happy to talk to us about any patient concerns. He was a wise and dependable colleague in his years of service on the Michigan Dermatological Society board. He bravely worked throughout lockdown to remove high risk skin cancers, and continued to see patients until near the end of his life. He seemed to always have a smile for his patients and colleagues.  He left us too soon and will be greatly missed.  My parents and I send our deepest condolences to his family.

Dr. Balle was such a compassionate and thoughtful individual.  He was always so dedicated to teaching the residents.  I always strived to emulate his ability to connect with his patients, display respect for his team, and inspire his trainees.  His calming demeanor made him a delight to work with.  I loved hearing his stories of summer travels with his family.   He will be greatly missed--a stellar surgeon, compassionate clinician, and dear colleague and friend.

My thoughts and prayers are with Pam and the family during this tremendous time of loss.  The world is a far lesser place without Mark, who helped so many people.

I came on board at Mohs surgery at HFH in April 2022 and Dr. Balle welcomed me with open arms.  Although my time working with him was short, he left an indelible mark on my life.  His dedication to his patients and his compassion towards staff and patients alike made a lasting impression that I will carry with me always.  I'll miss you Dr. Balle!

I first met Mark when I was a resident in Dermatology and he was a rotating medical student at WSU.   He later became a reliable and excellent source of MOH's surgery for my skin cancer patients.   I spoke to him  on occasion  regarding complicated patients and he was always warm and friendly and generous with his expertise..  He was a good man and I will miss him.  My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and co workers.  The world was a better place because of him.   Louis Chiara, MD, FAAD

It is with a heavy heart that I pen these words for a colleague who was much more than just that — Dr. Mark Balle, my surgical partner, mentor, and dear friend. 

His professionalism was unparalleled, and his ability to teach our residents was nothing short of inspirational. There was a sense of ease when working with Mark; his confident gaze through the microscope, his astute observations, and his thoughtful opinions were the backbone of our practice. This was often done while sharing his impressions of Dr Livingood or his mentor Dr Mikail.

Patients adored him, and it was no mystery why — he treated each person with an exceptional blend of warmth and skill.
I learned an immeasurable amount from Mark, not just in dermatology, but in life. His class, his dedication to his craft, and his love for our department set a standard we all aspired to. From the very start of his storied career, he was the heart of our Mohs unit, a constant in a world of variables, steadfast in his commitment to excellence and to the bonds he formed with colleagues. Mark was always present.

Above all, Mark was a family man, deeply devoted to his wife and three sons. He spoke of their trips and his family’s joys with a sparkle in his eyes, leaving us all in awe of the beautiful balance he maintained between his professional and personal life. I have sought to emulate that balance, inspired by the idyllic summers he shared with his loved ones.

As we say goodbye, I carry with me not just the wisdom he imparted, but the spirit of a man who lived fully, loved deeply, and left this world far better than he found it. His legacy is etched in the hearts of those who knew him and in the very walls of the clinic we shared. May we all find comfort in our memories of him, and may we continue to walk in the path he has lit for us.  Let’s all be a little more like Dr Balle.

Dr. Balle was the best boss to work for. He was an amazing gifted Surgeon who was brilliant yet humble. More importantly he was a wonderful human being who was generous, kind and filled with compassion. I learned so much from him about Mohs Surgery and life in general. I will always carry his memory in my heart and miss him.

Dear Balle Family,

We are praying for you to be comforted by the memories of your dear husband, father and grandfather as you grieve. Dr. Balle was a tremendous physician and teacher, and I have many fond memories of him helping me as I anxiously built up my surgical skills during my dermatology residency at Henry Ford. I remember him reminiscing about his youth when he would ask us to play specific Motown songs while we read slides (sometimes he would sing along and that always made me smile). He made everyone feel at ease with his generous spirit and warmth. He is deeply missed and will be forever remembered as a wonderful physician and man. 

Most sincerely,
Lauren Seale-Sarkipato

Dear Balle Family,

I would like to share my deep condolences for the loss of Dr. Balle. He was an amazing mentor and supervising physician to me during my training. I still remember how much he put me at ease during my interview at Henry Ford and the excitement I felt to do surgery with him during my mohs surgery rotations. It is a tremendous loss and my heart goes out to you all.

Sincerely,
Olabola Awosika

Words are inadequate to express the shock and sorrow of Mark’s passing. He was a Doctor’s doctor.     He loved his family with all his heart, he loved his patients with all his heart, he loved his friends with all his heart and he loved his colleagues with all his heart. His heart was big enough to do all of those at the same time. He always had time to teach and to learn, to listen and to speak. He was a role model to all the physicians he trained and all of us who were fortunate enough to work with him are better people because of him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pam and their sons and families and to his brother David.

I cannot adequately express how grateful I am to have had Mark as my dear friend, colleague and Mohs surgeon extraordinaire for almost 4 decades. We laughed together about so many things, and he appreciated all of my imitations or at least he led me to believe he did!  I want to extend my deepest condolences to Pam and his wonderful three sons. A special mention goes to his David his incredible friend and brother. I know that everybody who knew Mark understands what a great loss this is to each of us individually and to our entire community.

Mark was my classmate and dermatologist.  He was the rare combination of a nice and knowledgeable physician.

My condolences to the family.  You should be very proud, Mark was a great guy...  and because of that I referred a lot of patients to him!
Shlomo Mandel

I truly value the time shared with Mark during his residency as well as a staff member of the HFH Dermatology Department. His sense of humor and wonderful mischievousness were only overshadowed by his immense kindness. My  sympathies to Pam, David and the rest of the family. I can only begin to imagine your sorrow at his loss.
tfm

It is hard to comprehend this loss. Dr. Balle was my teacher, turned mentor, turned colleague. I looked to him for guidance and advice on a daily basis. He was the happiest and most optimistic physician. Dr. Balle always did what was best for patients and never shied away from hard work. He was loved by all who met him. He cherished his time with residents and took tremendous pride in teaching. He developed, grew, and transformed the division of Mohs at Henry Ford. I enjoyed my days working alongside him at the microscope. He brought joy and light into our lives. If there is one thing to remember about Dr. Balle is that he shared stories of his family and upbringing fondly. I loved hearing about his world travels with his family. It always brought the biggest smile to his face, and you could see the excitement in his eyes. He adored his boys and was incredibly proud to be a new grandfather. None of this would have been possible without his incredible wife Pam by his side to create and share his beautiful life with. Pam and family, we will keep you close in our hearts. This is a true loss. We will celebrate his life and never forget his legacy.

My lasting memories of Mark:
1. Mark, Jimmy Kaye and I were on the same 8K team, the Giants, coached by Mr. Nowak.  We came in first place.
2. We were in the same German class and many others at EDHS.
3. We went to Detroit Tiger games together.
4. He liked Canadian beer!
5. We carpooled together to WSU with other guys.
6. More recently, we had a few WSU reunions at Hamlin Pub with Jimmy, Dean Backos, Dave Zilli and Dominic Lombardi.  How precious those are now!
7. I already miss him.  He was a gentleman and a dear friend.  Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Balle!
Danny Boy

Mark was the definition of a dear and cherished friend.  Warmth, kindness, humor and loyalty were the very essence of his personality.  He was always there for me and my family, offering love and support through the very worst of times and the very best of times.  He and Pam and the boys became a part of our family.  Mark was endlessly fun to be with and he cared deeply about other people.  He was an incredibly gifted physician, and a skilled and generous teacher.  Mark touched infinite lives, and we are thankful that he was a part of ours.  We will miss him greatly.   Our heartfelt sympathy is with Pam, Mark, Alex and Nicholas, John, Eric and Megan and David.

Our deepest sympathy to Pam and the boys. I (Mark) joined First English about the same time that the Balle's joined and over the years our families grew up together. Mark always had a warm greeting and a kind word for everyone and mutual friends talked about his excellent medical care. He will be sorely missed but I know that he is in the Church Triumphant.

Pam and Family-there are no words to express our sympathies.    Having grown up with Mark and His Family was such a treasure and then being able to share in all
Of life’s special events with each of our own families was part of Life’s special journey.  Will always remember Mark’s laughter and wisdom!  My Mom also enjoyed her talks with Mark and she beamed when “Doctor Balle” would call her-we would hear all about her conversation for days afterwards.  May God Bless Mark  and  May Your Family find comfort in knowing so many of us have been blessed by Mark!

Our hearts go out to Pam, the kids, David and all my former colleagues at Henry Ford.   Mark was a friend, a gentleman and always had a warm welcome to all. He was a mensch!  
David Fivenson and Mara Miles

In my interactions with Mark, I always found him to be kind and generous when sharing his knowledge and expertise.  He will be missed by the many patients he touched over the years.   My condolences to his family.  May he Rest in Peace.

What a wonderful person Mark was. I have dearly enjoyed working with him and hearing his wisdom.  Sending love to his family. I know our work family will greatly miss him.

A kind and generous physician who deeply wanted to do the right thing.The best example of a humanitarian we can ask to represent medicine.He will be missed.

Mark was one special guy.  I will treasure the memories of our 40 year friendship from the days together at Ford Hospital to a long assortment of lunches, steak-outs, Tiger games, and even a Rolling Stone Concert.  He will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to Pam and the entire family.

Dearest Pam, cant even think of what to say. Mark was probably one of the most caring gentleman I have ever known. We have been friends since childhood and we had a joyous childhood with “the gangs” other kids. We considered everyone family. Mark was truly loved and will be missed by all of us. Love to you and the boys!

Mark was an exceptional person.  He was a talented physician, gifted educator and a cherished friend.  He will be  greatly missed.

My heart goes out to Pam and the boys....Mark was a great and kind man....I still remember the fun times growing up, going on vacations, 4th of July parties and many more adventures we all had together...he will truly be missed, Rest In Peace My Friend!

OBITUARY

Mark Robert Balle M.D.

January 22, 1957 – November 1, 2023

A.H. Peters Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services