Alvan Balent

Alvan Balent, M.D., 94, of Fort Lauderdale, passed away on August 13, 2026 in Vitas Healthcare at Broward Health Medical Center.

Dr. Balent was born in Washington, PA to Andrew Balent and Margaret Maslanik on February 27, 1932. He went to Washington High School and Washington and Jefferson College. He attended Temple Medical School in Philadelphia. He married Susan Roessler of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 2, 1957 in San Antonio, Texas. After completing his internship at Brooke Army Hospital, he served as a flight surgeon with the US Air Force 3rd Bomb Squadron, flying in B-57s, stationed in Japan and Korea. After his military service, he took a year of General Surgery at the Coral Gables VA in Miami. He completed his Ophthalmology Residency at University of Pittsburg and returned with Susan to Fort Lauderdale. In 1964, he established his medical practice and served on the staff of all the local hospitals. He was a pioneer in eye surgery doing the first intraocular lens implant in the city and bringing modern technology to hospital eye care. He brought the first operating microscope into Broward General Hospital and was the first to use the video monitor in surgeries. In the 1970’s, he traveled to Pakistan to perform eye surgeries. In 1982, Dr Linda Civerchia joined him in his ophthalmology practice and together they opened the first outpatient eye surgical center in the city. They married in 1990 in Fort Lauderdale. Together, they made 14 trips to India participating in surgical eye camps to treat cataract blindness and teaching advanced surgical techniques at the largest eye care center in the world, Aravind Eye Care System. They also traveled to Cambodia and Tibet to do surgery and teach. In 2002, Dr Balent received the Florida Board of Medicine Chairman’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Medical Profession and a Decade of Providing Medical Care and Medical Training to the Underserved.

Dr. Balent was an active outdoorsman who also enjoyed gardening and beekeeping. He was a member of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Association, Coral Ridge Yacht Club, Coral Ridge Country Club and Lago Mar Beach Club. He was a kind, generous soul who delighted us with his insights, humor and creativity.

Dr. Balent is preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor Balent; his wife, Susan Roessler Balent; and his daughter Jennifer Balent Grandas.

Dr Balent is survived by his brother, Andrew Balent, his wife, Linda Civerchia Balent, and his children: Mary Balent Long, Amy Balent, Alvan Balent, Jr. and Zachariah Balent, son-in-law William Long, son-in-law Oscar Grandas and daughter-in-law Gökçe Balent. He has six grandchildren: Katie Long McCauley, Alexander Long, David Long, Sebastian Grandas, Diana Grandas and Tristan Balent. He has three great grandchildren: William McCauley, Nathan Long and Patrick Long. He was a loving father and grandfather, who had a profound influence on the lives of his loved ones.

The family of Alvan Balent wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Preferred Care At Home and Vitas Broward Health Medical Center for his care.