Ralph Louis Bello

12/22/1949 to 11/03/2008

Born in Worcester, MA and was raised in the north east. Ralph worked in the construction industry since 1975, and earned his commercial diving certification in 1976 from the Divers Training Academy in Fort Pierce, Florida.  Prior to his diving certification, he completed his Military service as a member of the US Navy.  He worked for various companies in the diving industry both inland and offshore.  Ralph also worked as a project manager and technician for installation and inspection of various pipeline anchoring systems and has performed this work in both the USA and overseas.  He oversaw Lone Star Diving, Inc. operations, and worked as a supervisor and project manager untill his passing. Survived by his wife Madhoorie Pollard.

Eulogy spoken by Michelle Smith at the funeral service.

"...I can honestly say that I have never met anyone like him and probably never will. So I would like to take a moment and share with all of you, the things about him that make him special and dear to me..." Some called him "...'Mr. Raph', 'Mr. Bello' or even 'Ralphy Baby'..." No matter what you called him he was all ways the same "...the most organized person I have ever met in my life... He took pride in his work in a way that you don't see too often in people... There is something good to say for someone who likes the job done right the first time... Ralph expected more from you... pushed you a little harder than other people might... he expected more because he truly believed we are all capable of more... and I can stand here today and tell you that I am grateful for the man he was and that he believed in me enough to push me when I needed it... Mr. Ralph valued each and every piece of his life and it was the simple things that made him the happiest... whether it was a new pen, a free t-shirt, his stainless steel coffee mug, a job well done... or that morning phone call from Marge, ... I always knew it was her by that crazy ringtone... lol... it was the little things that counted and made his world go round... Besides being an excellent operations manager, diver, verteran, son, cool cat and husband... Mr Ralph was a gentleman... he never cursed, to me anyway... never let a woman stand while he sat... was never disrespectful and most importantly, he always shared his food... lol... thank you Marge... So many, many times I would leave the office... at five on the dot of course, and he would still be working at his desk...and the next morning when I would come in, there he would be at his desk... drinking old coffee because he had been up since four... It is such a rarity that you find someone with such a dedication to what they do... always willing to go the extra mile... and do it so meticulously... and with so much pride... but you could find that in Ralph... I learned quickly howto stay on his good side though... don't be late... and keep the coffee coming... lol... I loved listening to his stories... Stories about his childhood, diving, being in the service... stories about Marge, when he first met Keith and Linda... and my favorites... stories about Trinidad... Mr. Ralph was a cool cat, in case you did'nt know... He used to have a purple car... and if you listened close, that was real reggae music coming out of his office... This was a good man... an interesting man... who lived and really lived a good life... I am grateful to have been a part of it, if only for a short time... I'm going to miss you, Mr. Bello, you get all of my atta-boys... I am both honored and privileged to have known him and speak of him here today with all of you... Thank you and my prayers are with you all..." -Michelle Smith

 

The Sea, biologists tell us, holds the key to the mysteries of life.  In some unknown time and way a molecule of matter crossed an unknown line and became a living cell.  Other scientists believe that the human mind has a dim awareness of long tenuous roots that stretch back into the sea.  When we dream of being in water, they say, of diving into it or coming out of it, we are reliving the mysteries of our own birth.  Our language reflects the uneasy awe we feel towards the unknown world which covers most of the planet.  When something is beyond our understanding we say it's "too deep" or that "we just can't fathom it"!
Lil Borgeson and Jack Spiers. Skin Divers Handbook, 1960

Ralph Bello was one of those that brought some of us to that understanding both mentally and physically in the Gulf of Mexico. We always knew that the divers safety was the main priority when we were in the water. Thank you Ralph! - The Divers and Tenders of Lone Star Diving, Inc.

 

 

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