Jerome J. Bello
9/16/2017

We are grieved to announce the passing of Jerome J. “Jerry” Bello, 71, of West Roxbury, Mass., after a valiant and lengthy battle with cancer. Jerry is survived by his wife of 36 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Gaquin, his beloved daughter Heather Bello Thornhill, her husband Matthew Thornhill, his son John Bello, his sister Teresa Bello Holly, his 14 brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, his 15 beloved nieces and nephews, as well as many, many heartbroken friends. Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Bello & Santa (Barbaro) Bello. Jerry was born on September 23, 1945 in Boston, Mass. He was a graduate of The Boston Latin School and received both his Bachelor of Arts degree and Masters in Education at Boston College. After tenures with The City of Boston (as Director of Public Service Employment under Mayor Kevin White for the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)) and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (as Data Processing Manager), Jerry began a long and successful career as a legal administrator, substantially contributing to the success of several Boston law firms including Mahoney, Hawkes & Goldings, Keegan & Werlin LLP, and Shilepsky Hartley Robb Casey Michon, LLP. While Jerome’s professional career was important to him, nothing pleased him more than his outstanding volunteer work for local organizations. His critical contributions to the Massachusetts chapter of The Dante Alighieri Society (as Treasurer), to the Ethos Center of Jamaica Plain (as a certified Shine Medicare Counselor), and to The Finex House, Boston’s shelter for battered women and their children who have disabilities (as Board of Directors President), leave all of these organizations the poorer for his passing. Jerry was a genuine Italophile, teaching himself Italian in his later years and traveling to Florence, Rome, Venice, the Tuscan Hills, Cinque Terre, Naples and his ancestral home of Armento with family and friends. And above all, Family, or “la familia” as Jerry would say, was most important. His many nieces and nephews will sorely miss his calm demeanor and his sage advice.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 22 from 2-4PM and 7-9PM at the Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury. Family and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass on Saturday, September 23 at 11:30AM at St. Theresa of Avila Church, 2078 Centre St., West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Finex House (http://www.finexhouse.org/donate-finex-house.htm or P.O. Box 1154, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. The family would like to thank the extraordinary physicians, nurses, and caregivers at The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital for their wonderful care for and their dedication to Jerry.
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Gormley Funeral Service
2055 Centre Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
617-323-8600