Richard J. Bellet ’49

Dick died Oct. 22, 2004, after a five-year struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was 76.

Dick prepared for Princeton at East Orange [N.J.] High School. At Princeton he majored in chemistry, winning Sigma Xi Society honors. He designed the class beer jacket and was a member of Terrace Club.

After graduation Dick attended Columbia and received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He began his work career with Hooker Chemical Co. in Niagara Falls, worked for Texas U.S. Chemical Co., and then with Honeywell until his retirement in 1985. He later worked briefly as vice president of research for Ken-Tile Co.

After his family, Dick's greatest love was sailing. When he retired, he bought a 43-foot yacht and spent two years sailing the Caribbean with his wife, Jane, who survives him. Dick also derived great pleasure from teaching others to sail.

Dick's first marriage, to Eleanor Coons, ended in divorce. They had four children, Richard, Lisa Collins, Thomas, and Craig, who survive their father. He also had four stepchildren, five grandchildren, and eight step-grandchildren. To all of them, the class extends sincere sympathy on their great loss.

The Class of 1949