RIP Ray
Dallas lawyer and one-time club owner Ray Balestri dies at 64
Ray Balestri
Dallas lawyer and investor Ray Balestri, who circulated through Dallas' media and entertainment world, died on January 4; he was 64.
Balestri was an attorney at Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, which issued a statement saying that he left behind a legacy of excellence, mentorship, and professionalism.
His brother-in-law Sean Macy, who posted the news of his passing, called him a good friend to all, a man bigger than life, and a devoted family man.
Balestri grew up in Rockford, Illinois, attended Harvard Law School, and taught classes at SMU's Cox School of Business. In addition to his roles as lawyer and private equity investor, he co-founded '90s Deep Ellum bar The Bone and occasionally wrote for publications such as D magazine, penning columns such as the one on how to fix America's income tax system. According to this 2000 Dallas Observer story, he became a multimillionaire after investing early in Broadcast.com, the company founded by Mark Cuban.
In more recent years, Balestri was prodigious on social media, posting anecdotes about his family and century-old home.
Friends and associates described him as a person who used his skills to make a difference as well as an inspiration to those around him. According to his obituary, he died of natural causes.
He's survived by his wife Heather Macy Balestri and two sons Quentin and Julian, as well as brothers David and Brian, and sister Becky. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 13 at 3 pm at Highland Park United Methodist Church. A reception will be held at the church following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, Ray's family suggests donations to Friends of the Boundary Waters through their website.
