USS BELL
ASSOCIATION (DD587)
DECEMBER, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE:
GREETINGS
…..Here we are fast approaching the winter months with Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays just around the corner.
I really miss the warm weather and so dislike the cold windy days we are
having now. Our summer in the south
was extremely hot and dry but I didn’t complain because I knew it wouldn’t be
long before it would go away. So,
now it is time to get a newsletter printed and bring everyone up to date on what
has been going on lately.
…Our reunion was another wonderful time
together with the shipmates, family members and friends of the BELL. Our hotel was located directly on the Riverwalk and a nice place to stroll along the river or take
a ride on one of the barges. There
are so many hotels, restaurants, and shops with places to sit and enjoy watching
the folks go by along the river.
Saturday night we had our farewell banquet with a caricature artist
drawing pictures of everyone and a nice three piece band playing some nice music
from years gone by. Our
memorial service was so nice with Gina Daniel singing a melody of patriotic
songs and her father & shipmate Jimmy Faith conducted the service. Our auction was another success and I
want to express our appreciation to Wayne Fleming for his fabulous donation of a
beautiful ring that he had made.
Wayne is a goldsmith and has made and contributed some of the most beautiful
jewelry for our auction.
A big
thanks to him for his support of the BELL family. We also had a shipmate attend the reunion
that has not attended a reunion since I have been involved with the BELL. Mr. Roland Buerkle
of Vancouver, WA was in attendance.
It was such a pleasure to meet him and we hope he will be with us at the 2012
reunion.
…..The 2012
reunion will be in Washington, D.C.
I have just sent out my Request for Proposal and should have all the details
available by the first of the year.
I will let you know immediately when I receive the contract.
…..I received a
phone call from Al Lewis soon after the reunion wanting to say thanks from him
and Pauline for the card we sent letting them know they were missed and signed
by all attendees.
TO: All members of the USS
Bell Association – We appreciated so much your card from the San Antonio
September meeting. It was with lots
of regret that we had to pass up the opportunity to join with you and of course
exchange a few sea stories.
Regretfully, I can no longer travel by plane, and only limited distances by
auto. However, we do want to keep in touch and
Ann has done such a great job making this possible.
We send our very best wishes to all for the coming holiday season.
…..Dick and Barbara Daniels.
MAILBAG
..…I am Mrs. Betty Meyer’s grandson and am
writing on behalf of my grandmother.
She so appreciated your effort and hard work on behalf of the U.S.S.
Bell. At this time, my grandmother
requests that she be removed from your mailing list. Enclosed please find a
check written to you for all of your years of hard work.
…..Respectfully, Mrs. William (Betty) Meyer
…..Lucia (Tootie) DeWolf passed away on June
23, 2011 surrounded by family and friends.
Tootie was the wife of Shipmate Robert DeWolf.
…..Lucy Lamb, wife of
shipmate Kenneth Palmer Lamb, passed away October 19, 2011.
…..Mario A. Capitanio, age 87 of Brook Park, passed away peacefully on
September 17, 2011. He leaves behind
Marion (nee Everett), his beloved wife of 65 years. Loving father of Tamra Vajda, Mark (Aileen), and
Susan (Jon) Diulus. Dear brother of
Antonita
(deceased) (Joseph) Grizey; Catherine (Joseph) Arment; Alfred (deceased (Amelia)
Capitanio; Mary (James) Bowler (both deceased); Margaret Silvia
(deceased); George (Arlene) Capitanio (both deceased);
Helena (Edward) Jurczyk; Joseph Capitanio
(deceased); Rena (Adrian) White; Leo (Joan) Capitanio;
Anthony (Rhodora) Capitanio;
Theresa (Denis-deceased) Punch; and Patricia (Donald-deceased) La Grant. Cherished grandfather
of Robert, Matthew (Kate), Tamra, Dana (Jacq), Scott, Mark, Jessica, Laura (Matthew), and Katie
(David).
Great grandfather of Elise, Alayna, and Alexander. Veteran U.S. Navy WWII,
Member of American Legion Post 610, and Member of U.S.S. Bell Association. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated
at Mary Queen of the Apostles Church. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
.....Katie Kryniki, granddaughter of Mario Capitanio
wrote a wonderful memorial for her grandfather and I am printing it for you with
her permission.
Giving Grandpa that last kiss on his forehead a few nights ago is something I
will always remember. For that
moment the strong man I knew growing up wasn’t anymore.
Instead he had laid there not saying much, telling grandma and I he was
just listening. I felt the roles
were so reversed for that moment. It
was not long ago that I was the one who was sitting back and listening to
Grandpa. He was such a great story teller; whether
they were of him growing up in Lee, Massachusetts with his 13 siblings, of his
Navy days, or stories of him as a husband and father. Grandpa had such a memory and we were
blessed by his ability to share it.
It
has been said that Grandpas are for loving and fixing things. His 9 grandchildren were given such a
special gift of a grandfather. We
are given someone in our lives that had already lived a journey. That has made mistakes and learned
lessons. He was there to just
unconditionally love us. He did not
need to discipline or judge but instead to just hold out a hand for us. Grandpa Cap’s only job as a grandfather
was to enjoy and love us and that was a job that grandpa strived and succeeded
at.
I can
still hear grandpa’s voice yelling “Ma” in the house. For 65 years he was married to my
grandmother Marion. They were such a
pair. Their marriage like all had its
challenges over the years, but together they succeeded.
They are an inspiration to all marriages; love is what held them
together. Grandpa loved Grandma so
much and was never afraid to show it.
I love how they would try to sneak little kisses here and there.
Grandpa was hardworking and put his heart into every
project. If there was anything to be
done at someone’s house, Grandpa was the first to volunteer and the last to
leave. Grandpa will be remembered in
many ways but always as someone who would do anything for anyone before himself.
Three
words come to mind when thinking about Grandpa.
Lotto tickets, beer and crosswords.
Grandpa loved his lotto tickets! He always enjoyed a good beer, even
those 40 oz’s of Milwaukie’s best.
He was amazing at crosswords. He was
so proud of his time served in the Navy.
He was so honored to be a war veteran.
He was proud of both my cousin Lew and husband Dave at their service to the
country. Many of us had the
opportunity to share in his Navy passion by attending the USS Bell reunions.
The
other day after visiting Grandpa I knew he was ready to go on to be that strong
man again that he once was. Although I was not ready to let him go. But that is something I have learned
through writing about Grandpa, we don’t have to let him go. He will always be with us, whether it is
through pictures, stories, or just closing our eyes and remembering him. We can continue to walk in Grandpas
footsteps by loving everyone the way he did.
His passion for life will continue through us.
…..What wonderful memories
this brings to me from knowing this giant of a man for so many years. It is the greatest part of my job to get
to know these heroes up close and personal and it hurts so much to lose them. Thanks to you Katie for such a wonderful
tribute to your grandpa and the wonderful man whom we all loved so much.
…..Ann.
Wishing each and everyone a wonderful
Thanksgiving,
a joyous Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
We will be known forever by the tracks we
leave.
-- Native American Proverb
