Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Naples and Fort Myers

Who’s a Natural Awakenings Reader?: Meet Richard Ballo

Richard Ballo

Life’s mission: To educate and inform readers through writing books that focus on healing grief after losing a loved one. Life without Lisa: A Widowed Father’s Compelling Journey Through the Rough Seas of Grief is my personal story of recovery following the death of my 38-year-old wife. My latest, The Heart of Grief Relief Journal, is a combination of a book and journal intended to encourage and assist the grief and healing process.

Work: A writer in several disciplines, I am also the owner of a boutique publishing company, Tolman Main Press, located here in Naples.

Proudest Achievements: Raising two great men, my sons Victor and Nicholas.

Expectations for the Future: To write and produce books of entertaining and educational value.  

Favorite app: My Fitness Pal.

Local causes supported: Avow Hospice, Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Favorite thing about Natural Awakenings: The calendar: I can always find something of interest that is going on. It is a valuable reference.

Most frequented healthy food restaurant: Seasons 52.

How you invest in your community: I put my time and money into Avow Hospice as a board member and support the Harry Chapin Food Bank. I have been deeply involved in a local service club which supplies food and clothing to those in need, as well as to help other nonprofits serve the needs of the community.

Favorite quote: “Never, never, never give up.” ~ Winston Churchill

What are you doing to be the change you want to see in the world: Hunger is a real problem, so I donate to the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help feed the hungry in our community.