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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BELL, Arthur Frederick (Art), B.P.H.E., B. Ed. - passed away peacefully after a long and happy life on October 29, 2021. He was born in Toronto on August 25, 1924, to Edward Frederick Bell and Anna Gordon Meen. Prior to completing high school, Art joined the R.C.N.V.R. and served from 1942 to 1945 primarily on convoy escort in the North Atlantic on a corvette, HMCS COBOURG. His only sibling, Bruce Edwin Bell, died during the war in the crash of a Halifax bomber. After being honourably discharged, Art completed high school, enrolled in the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education programme at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1949. In the same year, he married Joyce Brooks. The couple moved to Lindsay, Ontario where Art began his teaching career at Lindsay Collegiate Institute. He was a passionate and dedicated teacher of physical education, math and history. He and Joyce returned to Toronto where he taught at Weston Collegiate and Vocational School and Northview Heights Secondary School. He became Head of Physical and Health Education and, later, Vice Principal at Don Mills Collegiate Institute. He went on to serve as Principal at Westview Centennial Secondary School and C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute. He retired at the end of the school year in 1984 but kept up the many friendships made during his career with the North York Board of Education. Art was very active as retirement approached and after. He played hockey into his 60's and travelled extensively with Joyce. He was a member of Forest Grove United Church, the Toronto Rotary Club and the Canadian Forces Base. He was an avid reader and enjoyed sailing his Mirror class dinghy and other boats. Most importantly, he was a committed and enthusiastic grandparent who was greatly loved by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joyce died in 1999 and he was devastated by her death. Long-time friend and companion, Marion Ashton, and her family were a wonderful source of support to him. Sadly, Marion passed away after they had been together for several years. In 2007, Art moved into Claridges and became a welcome and involved member of the community. There he met Valentina Fournier. They were close friends until his passing. Art was an affable and engaging man who loved being surrounded by people. Despite limited mobility and cognitive decline in his later years, he was grateful for every day of his life. He was blessed with three wonderful caregivers, Sereka, Shannon and Anga, and affectionate and attentive staff at Amica and Claridges. Dr. Sidney Feldman provided him with superb medical care for decades. Left to mourn him are his family whom he loved: his children, Andrew (Rita), Ian (Moira) and Janet (Andre), his grandchildren, Colin (Elizabeth), Eric (Natalie), Mathew (Natalie), Carolyn (Jim), Hilary and Simon and his great-grandchildren, Olivia, Noah and William. A Visitation and Funeral Service will be held at York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Road, North York, Ontario on Saturday, November 20th from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Service to begin at 2:00 p.m.). Masks, proof of full vaccination status, along with government issued ID are required for those 12 years of age and older in order to attend the indoor funeral services. Please leave time prior to the service to check-in. For those who wish to view the services remotely, please see online obituary at www.mountpleasantgroup.com. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. (The Globe and Mail 05 Nov 2021)
Ships served in: HMCS YORK - Enlisted 05 Jul 1942 HMCS YORK - Demobilized 11 Dec 1945
(AB00) Art Bell (3rd from right) with friends / shipmates
HMCS COBOURG K333
(AB01) HMCS COBOURG K333 at St. John's, Newfoundland (AB02-B03) Crew loading depth charges onto the launchers on HMCS COBOURG K333 (AB04) HMCS COBOURG K333 shipping seas as she digs into a wave (AB05) The quarterdeck of HMCS COBOURG K333 awash in rough seas
Unknown sailors on HMCS COBOURG K333
(AB11) Art Bell holding the winch brake on HMCS COBOURG K333 (AB12) Art Bell on the bridge of HMCS COBOURG K333 (AB13) Art Bell on the jetty in St. John's, Newfoundland - 13 Apr 1944 (AB14) Art Bell (right) with unknown shipmate on HMCS COBOURG K333
HMCS COBOURG conducting a stern fueling with a Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) (AB15) The heaving line which is attached to the fueling hose from the MAC is being winched in on HMCS COBOURG (AB16-AB19) HMCS COBOURG K333 fueling from the MAC
(AB20) Unknown corvette shipping seas, astern of HMCS COBOURG K333
HMCS UGANDA
(AB21) HMCS UGANDA in Esquimalt. Crew milling about the upper decks. Castle Class HMCS LEASIDE K492 is alongside UGANDA with and 2nd vessel pendent number ending in a "4" out board of her (AB22) Unknown sailors in front of UGANDA'S "A" turret (AB23) Looking down from the bridge of HMCS UGANDA in Esquimalt. On the left hand side of the photo, the Castle Class Corvette HMCS COPPER CLIFF K495 is alongside other Castle Class Corvettes. The "5" in her pendent number visible
HMCS WARRIOR
(AB24) HMCS WARRIOR entering Esquimalt, BC
Photos courtesy of his son Andrew, daughter-in-law Rita Giulietti and daughter Janet Bell Crawford
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