Clifford Anthony Ball was born on December 4, 1952, in Chester, England, to Mary Winifred and Ernest Ball. He died on February 11, 2025, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joanne, his son Ian, his brother John (Josephine), two nieces, and one nephew.

Cliff grew up in Chester, where he attended state schools, the most interesting of which was Hawarden Grammar School, a traditional British school where teachers wore gowns, pupils wore uniforms, including caps and ties, corporal punishment was still meted out, and students could study Welsh.

Cliff's first job was as a bus conductor, which involved taking fares in shillings and pence from customers as they boarded city buses. He later worked summers in a local steel factory to supplement a government grant for university study at the University of Nottingham, England, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics. He wished to continue his education in the United States, and was accepted into the PhD program in mathematics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. So, at age 24, he sold his used car, a Hillman Imp, flew across the Atlantic, and boarded a Greyhound bus to New Mexico, where he promptly developed a major sunburn.

After earning his PhD, he was hired as a professor at the University of Michigan School of Business Administration in Ann Arbor, in the field of statistics and management science. He subsequently earned tenure. Cliff was a natural teacher and quickly developed a reputation for his clear explanations, wit, and interesting asides. He was also known for being caring and encouraging with his students. While on sabbatical from the university, he taught at the London Business School and worked on Wall Street for Shearson Lehman. While living in Ann Arbor, Cliff met Joanne Evelyn Church, who would soon become his wife.

After ten years at the University of Michigan, in 1990 Cliff accepted a tenured position with the Vanderbilt University Owen School of Management in Nashville, Tennessee, where he would work for 27 years until his retirement. In March 1991, shortly after Cliff joined the Owen School faculty, he and Joanne were married in their living room. Joanne also found employment with Vanderbilt, working initially as a vocational evaluator and expert witness at the Medical Center, and later as Program Director of the Transplant Return-to-Work Program. Joanne's first day of work at Vanderbilt was the day after she and Cliff returned from their Jamaican honeymoon.

While at Owen, Cliff was named International Executive MBA Professor of the Year for Teaching Excellence for his work in a Miami program for South American executives. He also directed the PhD program at Owen and founded and directed the Master of Science in Finance Program. Additionally, he served as an associate editor of the Journal of Empirical Finance. Outside of his university position, he also offered presentations in financial planning as a community service.

In 1993, a son, Ian Schofield Ball, was born to Joanne and Cliff. Cliff was always centered on his family, a very close one, with all three family members sharing wonderful times together. Favorite memories include solving math problems on restaurant paper tablecloths and discussing and debating at the dinner table, with family members competing at "making your point."

Cliff grew up playing British football (soccer) and later became involved in coaching. He was also an avid runner and golfer. He and Ian shared all these sports interests, and balls were always moving between them, whether in the living room or out on the field.

There were many family travel adventures in the US and abroad, especially beach trips to Destin on the Florida panhandle, ski trips, usually to Vermont, and trips to England to reunite with Cliff's family and childhood friends, and to discover the other side of the family's dual heritage.

Cliff chose to retain his British citizenship, living as a "permanent resident alien" in America for the rest of his life. While he assimilated in the US, he retained his Britishness lifelong in the way that he carried himself, his tendency toward moderation in all things, and the British expressions that never left him.

Cliff was sincere and principled. He had a lovely even temperament, a keen intellect, a lively personality, and a wonderful sense of humor. He was committed to his career and above all was devoted to his family. He was much loved and will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Brookmeade Congregational Church, 700 Bresslyn Road, Nashville, Tennessee.