John T. Bell

John T. (Tad) Bell, 88, died peacefully at his home Saturday night in Farmington surrounded by his family. He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Nancy, his son John and nephew, David A. Kenney of Littleton, NH who were with him at the time of his death. Born in Greenwich, Connecticut and raised in Stamford, Tad was an environmentalist, sailor and Marine. He received a BA in English from the University of Connecticut and an MS in Forestry from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan. He served two terms in the U.S. Marines, stationed primarily in Hawaii, and worked for the U.S. Forest Service in California and New Hampshire - where he met his wife, Nancy, who was an English teacher at Littleton (NH) H.S. Tad and Nancy moved to Mamaroneck, NY where he was an employee benefits consultant for the Segal Group in Manhattan, Miles Laboratories in Elkhart, IN, the Washington Post Company in Washington, D.C. and Aetna in Hartford where he retired as the Director of Employee Benefits in 1989. He and Nancy moved to Peterborough, NH for five years before returning to Connecticut. Tad was an avid hiker, walker and outdoorsman. He loved being in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, sailing on Long Island Sound and eating Italian food. He was an active environmentalist, volunteer and friend to many. He and his wife Nancy were daily visitors at Starbucks in Farmington where he had an easy smile, firm handshake and enthusiasm for meeting friends - old and new. Tad is survived by his sister, Gertrude Johnson of Montecito, CA, nephew Iain Sherwood of Waldport, OR and his cousins William Kennedy of New Market, MD, George Heath of Pinnellas Park, FL and Roger Kennedy of Vero Beach, FL. A memorial mass will be held Friday at 10am at the Church of St. Helena in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a charity of your choice. For online condolences please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com