Clyde Richard Balch, MD, 84 passed away on March 2, 2021 in Naples Florida of natural causes. He was born in 1936 in Miami, Florida to parents Clyde and Mildred. Clyde lived in Naples, Florida and Livingston, Montana.
Clyde graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1954, where he starred in football, discus and shot put. In football he was a hall of fame defensive and offensive lineman. He helped Miami High regain the City Football Championship from Edison High in 1953.
He completed a degree in Chemical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, then medical school at the University of Miami, where he finished first in his class. Dr. Balch undertook a career in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, starting with a residency at the Veteran’s Administration in Los Angeles during the Vietnam War. At the VA he treated trauma victims evacuated from Southeast Asia. Subsequently, he served internships in hand surgery in Los Angeles, then Plastic Surgery at the prestigious Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. He established his medical practice in Miami. After several years in Miami, he relocated to Naples in 1977.
Dr. Balch was an accomplished surgeon. In addition to his successful practice, he gave back to the field by mentoring others and publishing 5 peer-reviewed articles on the surgical techniques he pioneered. His method “The central mound technique for reduction mammaplasty” was published in 1981 and has become the de facto standard for breast reduction.
Clyde enjoyed travelling and fly fishing. His favorite fishing challenges were giant tarpon in Florida and trout in the creeks and rivers of Montana. He also sought salmon in Alaska and Argentina, marlin in Ecuador, and bonefish in Biscayne Bay, Belize, the Bahamas and Christmas Island. In 1994 he landed a 177 pound tarpon at Homosassa, Florida on 12-pound test line. That tarpon set a world record that stood for 16 years. He loved France, French cooking and the French language. After retiring from medicine, Clyde studied French for a year at Alliance Francaise in Toulouse, France. Clyde inspired a love of the outdoors, fishing, and travel in his children and grandchildren.
Clyde was married to Connie Martin from 1957 to 1971, to Anne Cole from 1971 to 1997, and to Kristi Mercer from 1999 to 2006.

Clyde is survived by his children Tucker Balch and his wife Maria, Geoffrey Balch, Brandon Balch and his wife Suanne, Sharon Cline and her husband James, grandchildren Gunnar, Tucker Carl, Emmy, Parker, Austin, Rainn, and Sophia and his brother Robert Balch along with nephews and nieces.

Funeral services were provided by Naples Funeral Home. The family held a private service on March 7, 2021.