Honorary Director of the 1998 Cotati Accordion Festival
Steve and Jennie were born and raised in San Francisco, California where they both attended Mission High School. They were married on July 6, 1947.
Steve and his band played in Camp Meeker, on the Russian River, for 23 years. After commuting from the bay area for many years, he and Jenny finally moved to Sebastopol permanently in 1974. Here they had three sons: Steve Jr., John
Steve Sr. has served on the Cotati Accordion Festival Entertainment Committee for the past eight years. He and Steve Jr. have played for the CAF Polka Dance Party every year. This year they can again be enjoyed both Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm across from the main stage and Old Redwood Highway. (See map on page 2.)
Jennie Balich works hard selling tickets for and promoting the Cotati Accordion Festival for the benefit of The Accordion Club of the Redwoods Scholarship Fund. The festival donates $2.00 per ticket sold to The Accordion Club of the Redwoods. Last year she sold over $2000.00 in tickets, netting $440.00 for the scholarship fund.
Presently Steve and Jennie Balich are retired from their furniture business. They live on their ranch in West County next door to their two sons, Steve Jr. and John, their wives and three grand children.
