clarinews@clarinet.com (B.J. DEL CONTE) (01/13/90)
TORONTO (UPI) - The children of Toronto Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard Friday appointed a guardian for their ailing father, who remains in serious condition in a Miami hospital with heart and kidney problems. Ballard's daughter Mary-Elizabeth Flynn told United Press International she was in Florida Thursday on behalf of herself and her two brothers Bill, and Harold Jr., obtaining a court order appointing a local attorney Ballard's guardian ``for his safety''. Flynn said Ballard, 86, is eager to end a lengthy estrangement from his children. ``Seeing him was wonderful. We have been alienated,'' Flynn said. ``He was wonderful. He was very conscious and up and alert.'' Much of the estrangement from his children is attributed to Ballard's relationship with constant companion Yolanda, 57, who legally changed her name to Ballard in 1988, but is not married to Harold. Yolanda, who lives with Ballard in a suite in Maple Leaf Gardens, is his constant attendant and claims to be giving him the will to live. Ballard was almost married to Yolanda in a civil ceremony in the Cayman Islands Jan. 2, but didn't feel well and was subsequently admitted to hospital. Ron Webb, Flynn's Toronto lawyer, said the guardianship was not explicitly designed to prevent Ballard from marrying Yolanda. ``It really is not related to Ms. Ballard. It's simply a case of Mrs. Flynn being concerned about his well being and physical condition,'' Webb said. Webb said the temporary emergency guardianship given to Miami lawyer Paul Cowan covered his person and assets in Florida. Asked if it could prevent Ballard from being married without the guardian's consent, Webb said: ``To tell you the truth, I had not considered that question.'' Ballard has in the past said he has cut his children out of his will, and will donate his estate to charity or to no one in particular. Ballard is suffering from kidney and heart problems that struck as he vacationed in the Cayman Islands last week. He was later airlifted to Miami's Baptist hospital. His condition was upgraded from critical to serious earlier this week, but he remains in the critical care unit on kidney dialysis and oxygen. The colorful and often cantankerous Ballard has been hindered for years by diabetes and heart trouble and has been in a wheelchair since undergoing quintuple heart bypass surgery in 1988. A holding company controlled by Ballard controls 80 per cent of Gardens stock. The empire, estimated to be worth at least $100 million, consists of the Gardens, the National Hockey League Leafs, the Newmarket Saints of the American Hockey League and a printing company. Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. said in a statement that the court order was a family matter and ``will have no impact on the business affairs of Maple Leaf Gardens''. Yolanda pleaded guilty to a 1979 charge of perjury and conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with a forged will.