A Life in Retrospect

This morning early my uncle, Robert Bell, passed away in Sarasota, Florida.  In the hours that have followed, my mind has been reliving all the occasions that I encountered with this great man.  He has truly been a role model for me, showing me how to love life and people in ways that I'll never forget.  

As my mom's youngest brother, Robert Bell was born as the son of missionary parents to West Africa and endured a horrific torpedoing as a young boy by a German U-boat along with my mother and grandmother during WWII.  They survived a subsequent 20 days afloat at sea in a tiny life raft with 20 other passengers. A number of books have been written about that experience, including one by my uncle titled In Peril on the Sea, co-authored with D. Bruce Lockerbie.

One major trait that my Uncle Bob demonstrated was his great heart for people, demonstrated in a variety of ways.  He was an elementary school principal on Long Island, NY for years, having started out first as a third grade teacher.  As principal he purposed to be in and out of each teacher's class daily so that he knew well how things were for both the teachers' and parents' sake.  He liked to be out there to greet the students arriving on the buses in the mornings.  He took young people on bike tours in New England.  A fellow student with my uncle when both were at the reputable Stony Brook School said of Uncle Bob, "He was----and is---the genuine article....I never saw anyone more caring about others, especially the underdog."

My uncle sought to meet in Germany with the very men who torpedoed his ship during WWII, establishing some wonderful new friendships based on forgiveness.

Here he is pictured with the torpedo man, Edmund Wilshusen in Germany, who had fired the two torpedoes sinking the ship my uncle and mom were on.

Robert Bell loved God and  people.  Life wasn't all about him.  He noticed others and showed interest in their lives.  His was an exuberant love for life demonstrated in a youthful spirit all the way into his senior years.  I am blessed to have known him and be inspired and shaped by his outlook and life!