Michael J Bell

Michael Joseph Bell left our world on March 7, 2019 after a long battle with pulmonary arterial hypertension, with his wife holding his hand. He fooled all of the doctors over the last year, but his body finally gave up. Michael was born 9/12/50 in Saranac Lake to Robert and Helen St. James Bell. He grew up in Spencerport, NY where he met his future wife, Linda. It took him 40 years to marry her, but they had 10+ good years together in Colorado. Mike had many careers in his life. He spent many years as a mason in the construction industry, worked on the family tree farm, but was most proud of becoming a fireman, EMT and OR Scrub Tech later in his life. He loved to wear his Flight for Life jacket. He loved kayaking, fishing, golf, hockey, his Yankees and Giants (despite Eli Manning), all baseball and football (the Red Zone made him very happy!), NASCAR , all Olympics but especially the winter ones, and his Adirondack Mountains. Living near the Olympic training center at Lake Placid gave him the opportunity to train with the best and he became a bobsledder, which was one of his favorite accomplishments. He enjoyed all kinds of music, classical, opera, Celtic, Oldies and frequently serenaded the dog with bits of opera arias! When he moved to Colorado he became very active at City Park Nine as a golfer and marshall, got involved with his wife's pool leagues, and then started playing in another league with some of his golfing buddies. He will be missed by all who knew him and best remembered for his quirky sense of humor and his love of talking to people and telling stories.

He leaves behind his wife Linda, his children Michael and Michelle, two brothers, Thomas (Patty) and Robert (Leslie), his step-children Katrina and Chris King, and two step-sons Steven and Dana (Carrie) VanNess. Also, his mother-in-law, Mary Graves, sisters-in-law, Marilee Rice and Sue Otteman, and brother-in-law, Gary Graves. He also leaves three grand children, and 2 step-grand children, two great grandchildren, 3 nephews, 5 nieces plus many other relatives here and in Canada. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Helen and Robert Bell, his two sisters, Barbara Tallman and Patricia Rankin, and two brothers-in-law, Donny Tallman and Bruce Rankin.

So far, there is no cure for the disease that took Mike's life. He would be very happy to have donations made in his memory to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, https://phassociation.org/donate/ . Donations may also go to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, http://www.adirondacks.com/firedepartment/donations1.html . We would like to thank his doctors, particularly Beth Thurston, Chris Kempe, and Chad Stoltz for their excellent care over the last few years. Also, thanks to the amazing nursing staff at PVH ICU (Jette, Maggie, John, Troy and so many others) during Mike's several long stays last year, to his counselor, Nichole, and to the wonderful Encompass Home Care providers (especially Jenny, Annie, Leslie & Molly) who helped keep him comfortable during the last few months. A special thanks needs to go to his sister-in-law, Sue Otteman for all of the care, support and company she gave him and Linda over the last year or two.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ft. Collins in the near future (time and place TBD), and another will take place in the spring at one of his favorite kayaking spots in Saranac Lake.