John Bell

JOHN THOMAS BELL died at the age of 88 at the William Child's Hospice in Palm Bay, FL on Friday, December 23 2016. John was born on December 29, 1928 in Bronx, NY to Joseph and Mary Bell. John leaves his wife of 35 years, Jean Bell, née McCaig; brother, Francis Bell; children, John Bell Jr, Jacqueline Bell Shoop, 5 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Bell, brother, Joseph Bell and sister, Catherine Patwell. John graduated from St. John’s University with a BA attending on a track scholarship, Seton Hall University with an MA in Asian Studies, Carnegie in Chinese with a grant, Fulbright in Spanish, Iona College with a grant. In 1949, at St. John’s , he was elected Track Team Captain and led off the gold medal winning mile relay team in the Milrose Games at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s won First Place Trophy, AAU Meet, New York City John's military career consisted of US Navy Korean veteran; Merchant Marine service; retired as Chief , US Coast Guard. John served his country as a Navy seaman during the Korean War, then joined the Merchant Marine before completing his career in the Coast Guard, retiring as Chief. He enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and served on the USS Carter Hall, LSD; USS Roosevelt, CVA 42; USS Gen. Mann, TAP 112. He served with the Occupation Forces in Europe; Cyprus, Greece, Algeria and tours in the Arctic Circle, Guantanamo, Panama, circumnavigating South America before sailing to Japan and Korea. He served on Merchant ships several years finishing his seagoing career in the Coast Guard as a Chief Machinery Technician in 1990. In Callao, Peru, John had the unique experience of working with the Peruvian National Police monitoring the dock area where US crew members would return to their ships. He sailed on freighters and tankers supplying US troops worldwide and on a cable ship laying telephone/telephone cable from Port Angels, WA to Alaska. John’s 28 years of sea going service were featured in a Navy Veterans Publication, June 2006. Some of the medals he received include the Navy Occupation with European clasp, Korean Service, United Nations Service, Korean Defense Service and the Korean War Service medal awarded by the Republic of Korea. He was discharged from the Navy 1955 with the rank of Machinist Mate 2/C. A former resident of New Jersey, John and his wife moved to Indialantic, FL in 1996 after retirement from his career as a guidance counselor at Waldwick HS, NJ. His educational career spanned a variety of positions as teacher, guidance counselor, and as a track coach at Bergen Catholic HS, Don Bosco HS, Waldwick HS, and Ramapo College in Bergen County, NJ. He served as Past President, NJ Track Coaches Association, Guest Speaker Sports Writers Luncheon at the first Russian-American Dual Meet, Philadelphia, PA and as a Guest Speaker at Olympic Athletic Club, Athens, Greece. John was particularly proud that in his coaching career, his athletes won many individual and team honors on local, county, state and national levels. John’s years as head track coach spanned over 22 years and concluded as a consultant coach for sprinters and jumpers at Melbourne Central Catholic HS, FL. Visitation will be 10:30 am Wednesday, January 4, 2017 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at Holy Name of Jesus, 3050 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL. Interment with military honors will follow at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medplex Pkwy NE, Palm Bay, FL 32907.