Lanny Bell Obituary
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Carol Meyer
September 19, 2019
Lanny, you were beyond super as director of Chicago House. When I came out of the field at Quseir al-Qadim in 1980, six weeks without a real bath, and drove into the amazing green luxury of Chicago House you gave me a big bear hug and said "I'll tell the cooks to heat the water." I was not offended; it was the greatest thing you could have said. Six years later you hired me as a draftsman, which I relished from top to bottom. You and Martha ran Chicago House like circus masters of a three ring circus: the epigs and draftsmen, the physical house and its staff, and the Egyptian side: Antiquities, Luxor town, and all the rest. Not to mention your sheer zest for everything Egyptological.
Amr Elhelly
September 13, 2019
Lanny or father as I used to call him was a real great mentor, professor but most importantly a great friend, since we met and I started guiding his tours about 15 years ago, he was always there for me. No one did Luxor temple better and longer than him, we could spend 4 to 5 hours explaining until there would no one standing except for him and me . It was really him and his royal Ka. He has crossed to the west now weather as a viking because of his origins or as an Ancient Egyptian soul because of his Egyptian connections, he loved Egypt very much and Egypt truly loves him back as he touched the souls of every one in Egypt that he came in contact with,I even had calls from young kids who used to sell small souvenirs to his tourists feeling sad that he is gone . Goodbye my friend and May your beautiful soul rest in peace in the fields of Yaru.
Laurel Nilsen Sparks
September 3, 2019
Lanny was a wonderful person, and so generous with his time and expertise. He was part of the Archaeological Institute of America's Lecture Program for a span of over 40 years, and held our most prestigious lectureships, including both the Norton and the Joukowsky. Not only was he eager to do his own often-considerable tours, he was also the cavalry if another speaker had to cancel and we were scrambling to find a replacement. We will miss him very much, not just for his incredible service to the fields of Egyptology and archaeology, but for his unflagging good will, patience, and sense of humor.
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Sung Hwan Yoo
September 3, 2019
Professor Bell was a kind, passionate and wonderful teacher who introduced me to the history of ancient Egypt and many original texts composed by native ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago. I still remember some of his precious advice on how to become a competent and productive scholar. When I was a graduate student, I enjoyed his lectures and loved to read his articles. The world has lost another giant in the field of Egyptology. I will continue to remember him as a good friend and resourceful teacher. And, I am sure that his akh will stay with us for eternity.
Dana Ivey
August 30, 2019
Oh Lanny! you were such a wonderful guide on the three trips I took to Egypt with you and Archaeological Tours. We became friends and I learned so much from you. Your extensive, comprehensive knowledge was seasoned with wonderful humor. I enjoyed some special dinners with you and Karen. I sure will miss you.
Dona Abel
August 30, 2019
Dear Lanny,
Thank you for your life and for all the beautiful angels you gave to me.
I will miss you.
Mizpah
Love,
Dona
Charlotte Rose
August 29, 2019
Professor Bell was one of the most influential teachers in my academic career as an Egyptology student. He was always both generous and encouraging to his students to do their best. His sense of humor will also be missed, such as wearing a sweater that read, If I am talking, you should be taking notes. His teaching approach, which included instruction on how to analyze sources and scholarship, had greatly influenced how I wish to teach the field. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, colleagues, and students alike.
Peter Piccione
August 29, 2019
Dear Lanny, thank you for taking me to Egypt to work at Chicago House in 1979. It was my first trip there, and you were a remarkable director in those early years. The advice you gave me when you hired me was so wise and prescient, and 40 yrs. later I've never forgotten it. I worked so hard to justify your faith in me. Thank you for putting me to work in Luxor temple and for sending me up the scaffold to collate the Tutankhamun Colonnade. Hard work but so much fun. Never forget you traipsing around the house in your red hoodie, hood over your head, hunched over and always clutching slips of paper with notes to yourself. You and Bill Murnane taught me epigraphy, an enduring lesson. You taught me how to treat Egyptians, high and low, with respect and esteem. You were so patient with our dinner-table shenanigans. You introduced me to so many famous and respected Egyptologists. You took us to wonderful places across Upper Egypt to visit other expeditions. You hosted great receptions at Chicago House. Will never forget Halloween '79 (Golvin came as a Roman mummy portrait; Ray had a baby "Alien" wrapped around his face; Thad was a girl, and Bernie was a headsman) or the Thanksgiving banquet with tables elegantly placed on the front lawn, or you carving a turkey at Christmas, wearing your red hoodie with a white pom-pom on the top (Santa Bell). I remember well our trip to Quseir to visit Jan and Don's expedition (avoiding the mine fields!). Will never forget the traditional party for the missions you hosted on a chartered ferry boat in front of the house, and the "3 blind sisters from Qena" came to dance (they weren't really blind, and they probably weren't from Qena!). Thank you for being considerate in sending me to Medinet Habu at the end of the season to re-collate an old scene there "as an experiment" (you said), just so that my name would appear in that future volume. Then you gave a great paper in St. Louis on royal ka's and akhs; it opened my eyes. Thank you, Lanny, for all this and more.
Janet Wasserman
August 29, 2019
A TRIBUTE TO A LOVING COUPLE
Lanny met Karen Marshall in 2009 on a tour he led in Egypt. Karen was shepherding the tour group for her employer who raised funds to save famed historical and artistic sites. Lanny and Karen, both single, became friends. That friendship blossomed into a close and loving relationship.
While Lanny lived in retirement in Old Saybrook he had years enjoying life with Karen. They spent long weekends and holidays together while Karen was still working and after she retired. They enjoyed dining out, visiting book sales, and clothes shopping for Lanny. And walking their dogs. When Lanny was on tour in Egypt and visiting his dearest Egyptian friends, he and Karen were in constant telephone contact until Lanny returned home to Connecticut. When Lanny visited New York, Rhode Island, Ohio and elsewhere in the US to lecture, Karen accompanied him as his special guest and companion. She was known to Lanny's neighbors, friends, and former colleagues, in Old Saybrook and elsewhere, as Lanny's dearest companion. As time passed Karen was often with him on his visits to physicians. While time was the relentless enemy of Lanny's health and of his and Karen's happiness together, they persevered in maintaining the love, care and concern they had for each other. Part of Lanny's final moments were spent with a friend holding her cell phone to Lanny's ear as Karen spoke to him for a full hour. When he heard Karen's voice, his eyelids fluttered and the merest smile appeared for a moment as his face relaxed, reported the friend.
It is unspeakably sad that Lanny is gone. His struggle is over. His international reputation as a scholar, lecturer and teacher will long live after him. Lanny will always be in Karen's memory as that very special companion who made her life brighter as she illuminated his life with her presence. It is with the deepest condolences and sympathy that we send Karen Marshall our loving thoughts on the loss of her dear companion, Lanny Bell.
James Whitfield
August 29, 2019
Thank you so much for your contributions to Egyptology and your friendship. You will be missed
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