CP's Mary Armstrong wrote us with the bad news: 

On Monday, Roy Powell, manager/bartender/all around front-of-the-house and warm presence at West Philly's Abbraccio thought a while, calculated and figured he has been part of the Abbraccio team for  nine years, both in the 47th Street location and at Palladium on the Penn Campus. With co-owners Roger Harmon and Vincent Whittacre — generally omnipresent and interacting with the customers — conspicuous in their absence, Powell was the one receiving the condolences and hugs on behalf of the bereaved partners. Duane Ball, long a presence in the Philadelphia restaurant renaissance, got away from us suddenly last week. Within a week of his diagnosis of inoperable cancer he passed on, at home, surrounded by friends. For almost 30 years he had been a part of the social fabric in West Philly, determined to provide gathering places where the food was good and he prices accessible. Ball believed in freshness and quality, as he told CP in our look at seasonal cooking.

Back at Abbraccio Powell mused about the memorial gathering coming up on Friday night, saying, brows knit, there had been some worry about if it would be proper to have a good time. Then, face brightening, he said, "It's gonna be a hootenanny! Duane would not want it any other way. They've even hired a standards band to play all the favorites Ball loved  to sing."

Roger Harmon was Ball's friend for three and one half decades and partner in the restaurant trade for most of that time. Below are his  thoughts and invitation to you to share your memories in person at Abbraccio or in writing if you can't be there.

Duane Ball June 29, 1945 - June 19, 2007

There will be a memorial service at St. Francis de Sales Church (47th and Springfield) at 11 am on Friday, June 29. Later that day, there will be a celebration of Duane's life and birthday at Abbraccio Restaurant from 6-9 pm, with plenty of food and beverage. Plus the band "Second Vision" -- a favorite of Duane's! -- will play from 8-11pm.

Duane loved to dance and we hope you will want to also. Please join us for either or both of these events. If you have a nice story or reminiscence, please feel free to send it to us ...we will share some of our favorites in the evening at Abbraccio.

In lieu of flowers or birthday presents, we suggest instead a contribution to the organ fund at the church. Duane loved to sing in the DeSales choir every Sunday, backed up by the wonderful Haskel organ. Please make checks out to: "St. Francis de Sales Church Organ Fund." They can be dropped off at the church or the restaurant, or mailed to the church at 47th and Springfield Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

Feel free to contact us with any questions, thanks
Roger Harman and Vincent Whittacre

Born: June 29, 1945 Waterloo, Iowa
High School, Alexandria Virginia Graduated 1963
College, B.A. International Studies, American University 1963-1967
Ph.D., Economic History, University of Pennsylvania, 1967-1973
College Teaching:
    University of Michigan (Dearborn) 1974-76
    University of Pa 1977-78
    Swarthmore College 1978-79
Restaurant Owner-Operator
    The Gold Standard 1979-83
    The Palladium 1983-2003
    Abbraccio Restaurant 2003-

Duane grew up as an "Army brat," growing up wherever his father was stationed after World War II, including some years in Germany and a year in Japan.

He was always a cook, and even as early as age 8 he was doing much of the family shopping and meal preparation. As a teenager in Heidelberg, Germany, he worked as a Chef's Apprentice at the U.S. Army Officers' Club and learned many facets of large-scale food preparation.

Duane was an avid reader, particularly of history. His graduate work in Economic History at Penn led to a dissertation about 18th Century Chester County economic development.

While at Penn in graduate school, he met Roger Harman, and together they established a friendship that lasted for more than 35 years until his death.They both came to realize they wanted to be a part of the economy (rather than study the economy!), and they left their academic careers to become business partners and open a little storefront restaurant called "The Gold Standard" on South 47th Street, in 1979. This was followed by a move to the Penn campus and "The Palladium" in 1983, and then, when the lease expired at Penn, a move back to their own neighborhood with "Abbraccio Restaurant" in 2003, just around the corner from where he lived. [As far as we know, Abbraccio was the first newly-constructed independent restaurant in West Philadelphia in many years.} Another business colleague and close friend, Vincent Whittacre, became a third business partner in the mid-80's.

At the original "Gold Standard," everyone on the staff was expected to do every job on a rotating basis, the menu changed completely every week, and -- originally at least -- everyone was an equal partner in the venture. Duane described this as a true "anarchist" restaurant -- something in keeping with this evolving views of the economy. Some class distinctions evolved over time, but Duane's renegade nature never changed. Meanwhile "The Gold Standard" was named one of the "Best 50" restaurants in the city by the Inquirer's Elaine Tait. "The Palladium," received two favorable reviews in the Inquirer plus five "Best of Phillly" awards.

Duane liked all types of music. He sang in groups for many years, most recently in the St. Francis de Sales Church choir.

Duane was always an independent thinker, a very lively spirit, and he did not suffer fools lightly. His life was enhanced by many close friendships from the neighborhood, restaurant, school, and more.

Remembering Duane Ball