Warren E. Bell Jr.

Warren E. Bell Jr. Ph.D., descendent of a Santa Cruz pioneer family, peacefully passed away in his sleep on June 5th, 2023 from complications of a previous stroke in June 2014. He was surrounded by his family and his favorite music in his home.Warren grew up in Gresham, Oregon, and had been a resident of Santa Cruz since 1976. He had a talent for singing and actively participated in choirs at church and school. During high school, he took on the lead role in My Fair Lady. At 17, he climbed Mt. Hood with a group of four to witness the sunrise. Warren enjoyed adventurous activities like canoeing, backpacking, and whitewater rafting in Oregon and California. He had a visionary mindset, pushing beyond traditional boundaries in various fields, from business to design.Warren was a tender-hearted, gentle man, known to well up in tears during a touching movie or even a TV commercial. He loved animals, including horses, and had many household pets over the years. He was even known to carry a pair of baby bunnies around in his bathrobe. Warren was a master gardener, cultivating native California plants, vegetables, and herbs. He fed the squirrels and battled the gophers.Most importantly, Warren cherished his time in Santa Cruz with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He found joy in simple things like a family hike up Fall Creek, often stopping to play "Pooh Sticks" at the first bridge, as Winnie the Pooh was one of his favorite characters. Warren was a man of faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved son Matthew, and younger brother Michael John. He leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Shareen, his daughter Amy, his son Robert (Julia Margulis), his brother Nathan, his nieces Meredith and Allie, and his grandchildren: Jackson, Charlie, Porter, Augie, and Noah. He loved his family dearly, and they loved him right back. He will be deeply missed.The family would like to thank Hospice of Santa Cruz County and his caregivers, Stacy, Patrick, Tom, Ernesto, Marvin, and Stephanie. In lieu of flowers, consider supporting Hospice of Santa Cruz County.If you would like to send your condolences to Warren's family, share a memory or photo please visit www.scmemorial.com.