Pablo Mazon Balancio Jr., a longtime Hollister resident who became a staple on the Gavilan Community College campus in recent years while showcasing his lively personality, died at age 56.
Balancio was a photographer for the Hollister Free Lance before joining Gavilan College on a part-time basis in 2005 and as a full-time employee two years later. He died Friday at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital.
As a multimedia technician at Gavilan, Balancio was a go-to guy for many logistical matters at the college and would “always show up with a smile on his face,” said Kathleen Rose, Gavilan’s vice president of instructional services, who worked with Balancio on a daily basis. He handled such duties as providing instructional support, giving special technology support for disabled individuals, training faculty on media use, and ensuring all the equipment was up and running, she said.
Rose recalled the common sight of seeing Balancio on a golf cart going from event to event on the campus. Recently, he had been on a committee that is central to the planning for a Spring Gala event.
“We had such a dependency on him” Rose said, adding that Balancio always picked up his phone when she called.
Rose said the campus will hold a remembrance ceremony but that there are no details scheduled. Other memorial service arrangements are pending as well.
Balancio was a 1975 graduate of San Benito High School.
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