Bryan Bell, 90, civic leader
Friday, March 06, 2009
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer
Bryan Bell, a soldier, businessman and civic leader active in dozens of good government, neighborhood and church groups from the 1950s through the 1980s, died Wednesday at his home in New Orleans. He was 90.
Through several decades of service, Mr. Bell combined civic and community activism with service to his church, Trinity Episcopal.
In time he served as president of the Metropolitan Area Committee, the United Way, the Family Service Society and the Bureau of Governmental Research. At various times he also served on the boards of Ochsner Medical Foundation and St. Martin and Country Day schools.
Although he enjoyed a successful business career, his start was modest. His daughter, Beverly Bell, said her father sometimes told the tale of how he landed his first job after graduation from Fortier High School in 1935: He climbed to the top floor of a Canal Street office building and knocked on every door on the way down, until he finally found an office-boy job.
Mr. Bell later won a scholarship to Princeton University and after graduation served as an infantry officer in Europe during World War II.
After his discharge, he headed a small start-up food company in New Orleans. He sold it to Proctor & Gamble and embarked on a new career in real estate and oil and gas investing.
Mr. Bell's second career in public service was so extensive that in 1986 he was awarded The Times-Picayune Loving Cup, for community service offered without expectation of reward.
Mr. Bell also developed a reputation as a mentor to young adults, counseling them on professional and personal choices, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell's faith was an important part of his life, and the New Orleans Federation of Churches named him man of the year in 1977. His daughter said he joked that he held every available post at Trinity Episcopal Church except head of the ladies auxiliary. He taught Sunday school for decades and was particularly proud that his four children all devoted their careers to some form of community service or social justice work.
Near the end of his life, as interest in World War II and the Normandy invasion reignited in the mid-1990s, Mr. Bell surprised his children by beginning to share his wartime experience, which he had never before mentioned.
Mr. Bell was an infantry platoon leader under Gen. George Patton. During 136 days of intense combat in France, his company was reduced from 189 men to 59. Mr. Bell escaped unhurt, which he later called miraculous. For his wartime service, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2008, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rubie; one son, Bryan Bell Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; four daughters, Rubie Bell Gosnell of New Concord, Ohio, Bettina Bell Larson of Oakland, Calif., Beverly Bell of New Orleans and Barbara Bell Barrett of San Antonio; and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Bell will be held Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave. The time is still undecided. Lake Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private.
Bryan Bell
Friday, March 06, 2009
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer
Bryan Bell, a soldier, businessman and civic leader active in dozens of good government, neighborhood and church groups from the 1950s through the 1980s, died Wednesday at his home in New Orleans. He was 90.
Through several decades of service, Mr. Bell combined civic and community activism with service to his church, Trinity Episcopal.
In time he served as president of the Metropolitan Area Committee, the United Way, the Family Service Society and the Bureau of Governmental Research. At various times he also served on the boards of Ochsner Medical Foundation and St. Martin and Country Day schools.
Although he enjoyed a successful business career, his start was modest. His daughter, Beverly Bell, said her father sometimes told the tale of how he landed his first job after graduation from Fortier High School in 1935: He climbed to the top floor of a Canal Street office building and knocked on every door on the way down, until he finally found an office-boy job.
Mr. Bell later won a scholarship to Princeton University and after graduation served as an infantry officer in Europe during World War II.
After his discharge, he headed a small start-up food company in New Orleans. He sold it to Proctor & Gamble and embarked on a new career in real estate and oil and gas investing.
Mr. Bell's second career in public service was so extensive that in 1986 he was awarded The Times-Picayune Loving Cup, for community service offered without expectation of reward.
Mr. Bell also developed a reputation as a mentor to young adults, counseling them on professional and personal choices, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell's faith was an important part of his life, and the New Orleans Federation of Churches named him man of the year in 1977. His daughter said he joked that he held every available post at Trinity Episcopal Church except head of the ladies auxiliary. He taught Sunday school for decades and was particularly proud that his four children all devoted their careers to some form of community service or social justice work.
Near the end of his life, as interest in World War II and the Normandy invasion reignited in the mid-1990s, Mr. Bell surprised his children by beginning to share his wartime experience, which he had never before mentioned.
Mr. Bell was an infantry platoon leader under Gen. George Patton. During 136 days of intense combat in France, his company was reduced from 189 men to 59. Mr. Bell escaped unhurt, which he later called miraculous. For his wartime service, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2008, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rubie; one son, Bryan Bell Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; four daughters, Rubie Bell Gosnell of New Concord, Ohio, Bettina Bell Larson of Oakland, Calif., Beverly Bell of New Orleans and Barbara Bell Barrett of San Antonio; and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Bell will be held Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave. The time is still undecided. Lake Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private.
Bryan Bell
Bryan Bell, 90, civic leader
Friday, March 06, 2009
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer
Bryan Bell, a soldier, businessman and civic leader active in dozens of good government, neighborhood and church groups from the 1950s through the 1980s, died Wednesday at his home in New Orleans. He was 90.
Through several decades of service, Mr. Bell combined civic and community activism with service to his church, Trinity Episcopal.
In time he served as president of the Metropolitan Area Committee, the United Way, the Family Service Society and the Bureau of Governmental Research. At various times he also served on the boards of Ochsner Medical Foundation and St. Martin and Country Day schools.
Although he enjoyed a successful business career, his start was modest. His daughter, Beverly Bell, said her father sometimes told the tale of how he landed his first job after graduation from Fortier High School in 1935: He climbed to the top floor of a Canal Street office building and knocked on every door on the way down, until he finally found an office-boy job.
Mr. Bell later won a scholarship to Princeton University and after graduation served as an infantry officer in Europe during World War II.
After his discharge, he headed a small start-up food company in New Orleans. He sold it to Proctor & Gamble and embarked on a new career in real estate and oil and gas investing.
Mr. Bell's second career in public service was so extensive that in 1986 he was awarded The Times-Picayune Loving Cup, for community service offered without expectation of reward.
Mr. Bell also developed a reputation as a mentor to young adults, counseling them on professional and personal choices, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell's faith was an important part of his life, and the New Orleans Federation of Churches named him man of the year in 1977. His daughter said he joked that he held every available post at Trinity Episcopal Church except head of the ladies auxiliary. He taught Sunday school for decades and was particularly proud that his four children all devoted their careers to some form of community service or social justice work.
Near the end of his life, as interest in World War II and the Normandy invasion reignited in the mid-1990s, Mr. Bell surprised his children by beginning to share his wartime experience, which he had never before mentioned.
Mr. Bell was an infantry platoon leader under Gen. George Patton. During 136 days of intense combat in France, his company was reduced from 189 men to 59. Mr. Bell escaped unhurt, which he later called miraculous. For his wartime service, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2008, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rubie; one son, Bryan Bell Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; four daughters, Rubie Bell Gosnell of New Concord, Ohio, Bettina Bell Larson of Oakland, Calif., Beverly Bell of New Orleans and Barbara Bell Barrett of San Antonio; and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Bell will be held Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave. The time is still undecided. Lake Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private.
Bryan Bell
Friday, March 06, 2009
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer
Bryan Bell, a soldier, businessman and civic leader active in dozens of good government, neighborhood and church groups from the 1950s through the 1980s, died Wednesday at his home in New Orleans. He was 90.
Through several decades of service, Mr. Bell combined civic and community activism with service to his church, Trinity Episcopal.
In time he served as president of the Metropolitan Area Committee, the United Way, the Family Service Society and the Bureau of Governmental Research. At various times he also served on the boards of Ochsner Medical Foundation and St. Martin and Country Day schools.
Although he enjoyed a successful business career, his start was modest. His daughter, Beverly Bell, said her father sometimes told the tale of how he landed his first job after graduation from Fortier High School in 1935: He climbed to the top floor of a Canal Street office building and knocked on every door on the way down, until he finally found an office-boy job.
Mr. Bell later won a scholarship to Princeton University and after graduation served as an infantry officer in Europe during World War II.
After his discharge, he headed a small start-up food company in New Orleans. He sold it to Proctor & Gamble and embarked on a new career in real estate and oil and gas investing.
Mr. Bell's second career in public service was so extensive that in 1986 he was awarded The Times-Picayune Loving Cup, for community service offered without expectation of reward.
Mr. Bell also developed a reputation as a mentor to young adults, counseling them on professional and personal choices, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell's faith was an important part of his life, and the New Orleans Federation of Churches named him man of the year in 1977. His daughter said he joked that he held every available post at Trinity Episcopal Church except head of the ladies auxiliary. He taught Sunday school for decades and was particularly proud that his four children all devoted their careers to some form of community service or social justice work.
Near the end of his life, as interest in World War II and the Normandy invasion reignited in the mid-1990s, Mr. Bell surprised his children by beginning to share his wartime experience, which he had never before mentioned.
Mr. Bell was an infantry platoon leader under Gen. George Patton. During 136 days of intense combat in France, his company was reduced from 189 men to 59. Mr. Bell escaped unhurt, which he later called miraculous. For his wartime service, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 2008, his daughter said.
Mr. Bell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rubie; one son, Bryan Bell Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; four daughters, Rubie Bell Gosnell of New Concord, Ohio, Bettina Bell Larson of Oakland, Calif., Beverly Bell of New Orleans and Barbara Bell Barrett of San Antonio; and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Bell will be held Monday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave. The time is still undecided. Lake Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be private.
Bryan Bell
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