Obituary of Benjamin P Bello

Bello, Benjamin P. age 94 passed away on June 25, 2018. Born in Paterson in 1924, Mr. Bello lived in Paterson until 1971 when he moved to Totowa. He was employed for over thirty years as manager of Boris Kroll Fabrics in Paterson and New York City. Following his employment in the textile industry, he served as a case file manager for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Office of Cable Television, until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 83. Mr. Bello served in the Army Air Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He saw combat in the Philippines and New Guinea. He participated in battles resulting in the liberation of the Bataan Death March survivors, and the freeing of military and civilian prisoners held by the Japanese at St. Thomas College in Manila. While under attack from Japanese snipers, Mr. Bello sustained injuries which worsened over the years to the point where he became 100% disabled. As part of the Army Air Corps radar units, Mr. Bello plotted numerous Allied bombing missions over the South Pacific. He would often recall viewing the flight path of American airplanes headed for the Japanese mainland on August 6 and August 9, 1945, planes which dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki thus bringing an end to WW II. For his military service, Mr. Bello was awarded the American Campaign Medal, an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, an Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with Silver Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal and New Jersey's highest medal for valor, the Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the United States Cold War Service Citation. In further recognition of his military service, Mr. Bello was granted the honor of serving as a Grand Marshall in Totowa's 2013 Memorial Day Parade. Mr. Bello, a life-long member of the Disabled Veterans of America, took great pride in his military service and in being part of America's Greatest Generation. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Ruth (nee Grossi), his childhood sweetheart to whom he was married for 44 years, his brother Frank Bello, his sisters Carmela Bollinger and Emily Vivino, and his mother Vincenza Bello D'Amico. He is survived by his daughter, Carla Vivian Bello of Totowa, an attorney and former Senior Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey. He is also survived by his brother John Bello of Matawan and numerous nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, on Friday at 9:00 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. James R.C. Church, Totowa at 9:30 AM. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may visit on Thursday from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.