Jean Balliman
1876–1962 (age 86)
Biography
Jean Balliman, born in 1876, was an early advocate for Esperanto, promoting its promise as a living bridge between different cultures and tongues. He wrote, lectured, and organized gatherings that welcomed newcomers to the language and to the ideals of international friendship.
His faithful stewardship of the movement’s Parisian circles helped sustain Esperanto’s community through difficult decades, and he rests at Montparnasse Cemetery where his work is still celebrated by speakers who treasure the open-handed listener he was.