John L. Bellis, age 94, formerly of Ansonia, CT, passed away on July 3, 2022 in New Jersey. John lived in Ansonia for most of his life and walked to work at Farrell Corporation for close to 64 years, working until he was 84 years of age. At the age of 17, like many of his generation, John dropped out of high school and joined the Navy to fight in World War II. He never spoke of the war other than to address the loss of hearing that he suffered as a result. It was not until dementia took over his brain that his family learned the details of what he endured. He spent the last several months of his life reliving the battle that cost him not only his hearing, but many of his comrades.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, John returned to Ansonia to complete high school and then attended Syracuse University where he studied electrical engineering. Unfortunately, he suffered such severe ear infections that he was forced to quit and return home for treatment. He eventually obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from what was then, New Haven College.
John had an interesting and successful career that took him all over the world and earned him one patent. He regaled his family with stories of his experiences in the Communist Block and behind the Iron Curtain; he visited China, South Korea, Venezuela, East Germany, Spain, England, Denmark, and many other countries.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Isabelle Miller, currently living in New Egypt, NJ with their daughter and son-in-law, Amy Bellis and James Garrigan, III; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Lori Bellis of Conway, SC; his grandson David Senos of Gloucester City, NJ, and his granddaughter Jacquelyn Senos of San Diego, CA. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews scattered across the country. John was predeceased by his parents, Peter Bellis and Antoinette Calderola, of Ansonia, CT; his sister Isabelle Saran of Bellevue, WA; and his sister, Louise DellaVolpe and her husband, Jack, of Ansonia, CT.
We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge John’s love of dogs, which he passed on to both of his children. He particularly loved English Bulldogs and had several — Dell, Brutus, and Oliver, but he wasn’t so partial as to not adore the others: Kahlua, Maggie, Charlie, Peanut and especially Lucy, who currently misses him as much as we all do. Lastly, his final year and half was happily spent living on his daughters farm, where he developed a close relationship with a senior Clydesdale, named Bo.
Services will be private and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. In light of what we learned about post traumatic stress and the long term effects it has on veterans who try to move past the trauma without help, and in conjunction with his love of dogs, we would greatly appreciate donations made in his honor to Paws Healing Heroes, a non-profit based in NJ that trains shelter dogs to become service dogs for veterans. https://pawshealingheroes.org/donate/
