LEONARD T. BELL*
August 2, 1918 to August 7, 2011
Leonard T. Bell was born August 2, 1918 in Buffalo Gap, Texas, to Henry Grady Bell and Ella Dillard Bell.
He moved to San Diego with his parents and younger brother, Henry G. Bell, Jr. (a.k.a. Babe) in 1925. He attended Euclid Grammar School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Hoover High in 1937. Athletics, especially baseball and boxing, played a big part in his life. He played sandlot baseball and on the Hoover High baseball team with Ted Williams, and continued to play baseball and box in college and while he was in the Army.
Prior to his induction into the Army in 1943, he married Betty Leeper, and had a son, Michael.
He served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. His battalion marched into France against the retreating Germans and arrived in Paris immediately following its liberation. He was assigned to the U.S. Army baseball team and was sent out to play exhibition games to entertain the troops who were waiting for transport home. Because his natural aptitude for art was apparent, he was chosen as one of six men from Gen. Patton's Army to study with Patton's friend, the noted portraitist, Prof. Czedehowski.
After the War and until his death, Leonard continued to paint and to collect art and artifacts. Creativity was a major theme in his life; in addition to painting, drawing and sculpture, he designed and built many homes and buildings as a contractor and developer in San Diego County.
Before he left for WW II, he worked briefly for San Diego Gas & Electric and joined the San Diego Fire Department. Upon his return from military duty he resumed his career in the Fire Department and rose through the ranks to become Chief in 1968. He held that position until his retirement in 1975.
Several years after his first marriage ended in divorce, Leonard married Inez Lillian Nybo in 1948 and had three children with her, Sally, Randall and Barry. The family lived in the State College Area, then moved in 1959 to one of many homes that Leonard built in Rancho Santa Fe. His marriage to Inez ended in divorce in 1972.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Borrego Springs where he painted, gardened, collected and pursued his passion for reading until 2000 when he returned to San Diego to live with his son Barry, daughter-in-law Cate, and granddaughter, Aurelia. He lived there until he died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep just five days after his 93rd birthday.
Leonard was a dynamic, creative and charming man, a good storyteller and joke teller, and liked to indulge in the occasional practical joke. He was noted for his humor, and was much sought after as a Toastmaster. He was active in numerous civic organizations including: the Downtown Rotary, Masonic Lodge #35F&AM, the Peace Officer's Shrine Club, the Al Bahr Shrine Temple, the International Fire Chief's Association, the Rest and Aspiration Society, the Cuyamaca Club, and the Prophets Investment Club of La Jolla. He was the founding President of the San Diego Leukemia Society and a founder of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Museum. While always proud of his roots in Texas, he truly loved the City of San Diego, its people, history and natural beauty. During his tenure as Chief of the Fire Department, he oversaw the building of our state-of-the-art Fire Headquarters downtown, the entrance of the first women firefighters into the Firefighters Academy, a fire-fighters strike, (both unprecedented) and a greater expansion of personnel and stations than had occurred in the previous 30 years. As coordinator of mutual aid for San Diego and Imperial counties, he was responsible for a significant part of the management of the Laguna Mountain fire of 1970, the largest fire in California's history to that date.
He is survived by his children, Michael Nivison of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Sally Bell and Barry Bell of San Diego, and Randall Bell of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and by daughters-in-law, Cate Bell, Carol Nivison, and Joanne Nivison; and by two grandchildren, Michael D. Nivison and Aurelia Bell, both of San Diego. He is fondly remembered by his caretaker and friend of many years, Maria Romero and leaves behind his beloved cat Inky.
Private services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the , or the San Diego Zoo.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on August 25, 2011
August 2, 1918 to August 7, 2011
Leonard T. Bell was born August 2, 1918 in Buffalo Gap, Texas, to Henry Grady Bell and Ella Dillard Bell.
He moved to San Diego with his parents and younger brother, Henry G. Bell, Jr. (a.k.a. Babe) in 1925. He attended Euclid Grammar School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Hoover High in 1937. Athletics, especially baseball and boxing, played a big part in his life. He played sandlot baseball and on the Hoover High baseball team with Ted Williams, and continued to play baseball and box in college and while he was in the Army.
Prior to his induction into the Army in 1943, he married Betty Leeper, and had a son, Michael.
He served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. His battalion marched into France against the retreating Germans and arrived in Paris immediately following its liberation. He was assigned to the U.S. Army baseball team and was sent out to play exhibition games to entertain the troops who were waiting for transport home. Because his natural aptitude for art was apparent, he was chosen as one of six men from Gen. Patton's Army to study with Patton's friend, the noted portraitist, Prof. Czedehowski.
After the War and until his death, Leonard continued to paint and to collect art and artifacts. Creativity was a major theme in his life; in addition to painting, drawing and sculpture, he designed and built many homes and buildings as a contractor and developer in San Diego County.
Before he left for WW II, he worked briefly for San Diego Gas & Electric and joined the San Diego Fire Department. Upon his return from military duty he resumed his career in the Fire Department and rose through the ranks to become Chief in 1968. He held that position until his retirement in 1975.
Several years after his first marriage ended in divorce, Leonard married Inez Lillian Nybo in 1948 and had three children with her, Sally, Randall and Barry. The family lived in the State College Area, then moved in 1959 to one of many homes that Leonard built in Rancho Santa Fe. His marriage to Inez ended in divorce in 1972.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Borrego Springs where he painted, gardened, collected and pursued his passion for reading until 2000 when he returned to San Diego to live with his son Barry, daughter-in-law Cate, and granddaughter, Aurelia. He lived there until he died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep just five days after his 93rd birthday.
Leonard was a dynamic, creative and charming man, a good storyteller and joke teller, and liked to indulge in the occasional practical joke. He was noted for his humor, and was much sought after as a Toastmaster. He was active in numerous civic organizations including: the Downtown Rotary, Masonic Lodge #35F&AM, the Peace Officer's Shrine Club, the Al Bahr Shrine Temple, the International Fire Chief's Association, the Rest and Aspiration Society, the Cuyamaca Club, and the Prophets Investment Club of La Jolla. He was the founding President of the San Diego Leukemia Society and a founder of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Museum. While always proud of his roots in Texas, he truly loved the City of San Diego, its people, history and natural beauty. During his tenure as Chief of the Fire Department, he oversaw the building of our state-of-the-art Fire Headquarters downtown, the entrance of the first women firefighters into the Firefighters Academy, a fire-fighters strike, (both unprecedented) and a greater expansion of personnel and stations than had occurred in the previous 30 years. As coordinator of mutual aid for San Diego and Imperial counties, he was responsible for a significant part of the management of the Laguna Mountain fire of 1970, the largest fire in California's history to that date.
He is survived by his children, Michael Nivison of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Sally Bell and Barry Bell of San Diego, and Randall Bell of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and by daughters-in-law, Cate Bell, Carol Nivison, and Joanne Nivison; and by two grandchildren, Michael D. Nivison and Aurelia Bell, both of San Diego. He is fondly remembered by his caretaker and friend of many years, Maria Romero and leaves behind his beloved cat Inky.
Private services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the , or the San Diego Zoo.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on August 25, 2011
LEONARD T. BELL*
August 2, 1918 to August 7, 2011
Leonard T. Bell was born August 2, 1918 in Buffalo Gap, Texas, to Henry Grady Bell and Ella Dillard Bell.
He moved to San Diego with his parents and younger brother, Henry G. Bell, Jr. (a.k.a. Babe) in 1925. He attended Euclid Grammar School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Hoover High in 1937. Athletics, especially baseball and boxing, played a big part in his life. He played sandlot baseball and on the Hoover High baseball team with Ted Williams, and continued to play baseball and box in college and while he was in the Army.
Prior to his induction into the Army in 1943, he married Betty Leeper, and had a son, Michael.
He served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. His battalion marched into France against the retreating Germans and arrived in Paris immediately following its liberation. He was assigned to the U.S. Army baseball team and was sent out to play exhibition games to entertain the troops who were waiting for transport home. Because his natural aptitude for art was apparent, he was chosen as one of six men from Gen. Patton's Army to study with Patton's friend, the noted portraitist, Prof. Czedehowski.
After the War and until his death, Leonard continued to paint and to collect art and artifacts. Creativity was a major theme in his life; in addition to painting, drawing and sculpture, he designed and built many homes and buildings as a contractor and developer in San Diego County.
Before he left for WW II, he worked briefly for San Diego Gas & Electric and joined the San Diego Fire Department. Upon his return from military duty he resumed his career in the Fire Department and rose through the ranks to become Chief in 1968. He held that position until his retirement in 1975.
Several years after his first marriage ended in divorce, Leonard married Inez Lillian Nybo in 1948 and had three children with her, Sally, Randall and Barry. The family lived in the State College Area, then moved in 1959 to one of many homes that Leonard built in Rancho Santa Fe. His marriage to Inez ended in divorce in 1972.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Borrego Springs where he painted, gardened, collected and pursued his passion for reading until 2000 when he returned to San Diego to live with his son Barry, daughter-in-law Cate, and granddaughter, Aurelia. He lived there until he died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep just five days after his 93rd birthday.
Leonard was a dynamic, creative and charming man, a good storyteller and joke teller, and liked to indulge in the occasional practical joke. He was noted for his humor, and was much sought after as a Toastmaster. He was active in numerous civic organizations including: the Downtown Rotary, Masonic Lodge #35F&AM, the Peace Officer's Shrine Club, the Al Bahr Shrine Temple, the International Fire Chief's Association, the Rest and Aspiration Society, the Cuyamaca Club, and the Prophets Investment Club of La Jolla. He was the founding President of the San Diego Leukemia Society and a founder of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Museum. While always proud of his roots in Texas, he truly loved the City of San Diego, its people, history and natural beauty. During his tenure as Chief of the Fire Department, he oversaw the building of our state-of-the-art Fire Headquarters downtown, the entrance of the first women firefighters into the Firefighters Academy, a fire-fighters strike, (both unprecedented) and a greater expansion of personnel and stations than had occurred in the previous 30 years. As coordinator of mutual aid for San Diego and Imperial counties, he was responsible for a significant part of the management of the Laguna Mountain fire of 1970, the largest fire in California's history to that date.
He is survived by his children, Michael Nivison of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Sally Bell and Barry Bell of San Diego, and Randall Bell of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and by daughters-in-law, Cate Bell, Carol Nivison, and Joanne Nivison; and by two grandchildren, Michael D. Nivison and Aurelia Bell, both of San Diego. He is fondly remembered by his caretaker and friend of many years, Maria Romero and leaves behind his beloved cat Inky.
Private services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the , or the San Diego Zoo.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on August 25, 2011
August 2, 1918 to August 7, 2011
Leonard T. Bell was born August 2, 1918 in Buffalo Gap, Texas, to Henry Grady Bell and Ella Dillard Bell.
He moved to San Diego with his parents and younger brother, Henry G. Bell, Jr. (a.k.a. Babe) in 1925. He attended Euclid Grammar School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and graduated from Hoover High in 1937. Athletics, especially baseball and boxing, played a big part in his life. He played sandlot baseball and on the Hoover High baseball team with Ted Williams, and continued to play baseball and box in college and while he was in the Army.
Prior to his induction into the Army in 1943, he married Betty Leeper, and had a son, Michael.
He served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. His battalion marched into France against the retreating Germans and arrived in Paris immediately following its liberation. He was assigned to the U.S. Army baseball team and was sent out to play exhibition games to entertain the troops who were waiting for transport home. Because his natural aptitude for art was apparent, he was chosen as one of six men from Gen. Patton's Army to study with Patton's friend, the noted portraitist, Prof. Czedehowski.
After the War and until his death, Leonard continued to paint and to collect art and artifacts. Creativity was a major theme in his life; in addition to painting, drawing and sculpture, he designed and built many homes and buildings as a contractor and developer in San Diego County.
Before he left for WW II, he worked briefly for San Diego Gas & Electric and joined the San Diego Fire Department. Upon his return from military duty he resumed his career in the Fire Department and rose through the ranks to become Chief in 1968. He held that position until his retirement in 1975.
Several years after his first marriage ended in divorce, Leonard married Inez Lillian Nybo in 1948 and had three children with her, Sally, Randall and Barry. The family lived in the State College Area, then moved in 1959 to one of many homes that Leonard built in Rancho Santa Fe. His marriage to Inez ended in divorce in 1972.
In the mid-1980s, he moved to Borrego Springs where he painted, gardened, collected and pursued his passion for reading until 2000 when he returned to San Diego to live with his son Barry, daughter-in-law Cate, and granddaughter, Aurelia. He lived there until he died unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep just five days after his 93rd birthday.
Leonard was a dynamic, creative and charming man, a good storyteller and joke teller, and liked to indulge in the occasional practical joke. He was noted for his humor, and was much sought after as a Toastmaster. He was active in numerous civic organizations including: the Downtown Rotary, Masonic Lodge #35F&AM, the Peace Officer's Shrine Club, the Al Bahr Shrine Temple, the International Fire Chief's Association, the Rest and Aspiration Society, the Cuyamaca Club, and the Prophets Investment Club of La Jolla. He was the founding President of the San Diego Leukemia Society and a founder of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Museum. While always proud of his roots in Texas, he truly loved the City of San Diego, its people, history and natural beauty. During his tenure as Chief of the Fire Department, he oversaw the building of our state-of-the-art Fire Headquarters downtown, the entrance of the first women firefighters into the Firefighters Academy, a fire-fighters strike, (both unprecedented) and a greater expansion of personnel and stations than had occurred in the previous 30 years. As coordinator of mutual aid for San Diego and Imperial counties, he was responsible for a significant part of the management of the Laguna Mountain fire of 1970, the largest fire in California's history to that date.
He is survived by his children, Michael Nivison of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Sally Bell and Barry Bell of San Diego, and Randall Bell of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and by daughters-in-law, Cate Bell, Carol Nivison, and Joanne Nivison; and by two grandchildren, Michael D. Nivison and Aurelia Bell, both of San Diego. He is fondly remembered by his caretaker and friend of many years, Maria Romero and leaves behind his beloved cat Inky.
Private services will be held at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the , or the San Diego Zoo.
Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on August 25, 2011
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