Henry William Bellows, Sr., known as “Hank”, “Captain” and “Happy” during his lifetime, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 surrounded by the people he loved most in the world. On any given day, Hank could be found planting in his award-winning garden or in the Café Hope garden where he volunteered for years; sitting in his favorite chair reading the latest Stephen King or Tom Clancy novel; teaching his friends, children and grandchildren how to catch the “big one” while fishing on his boat; cooking a huge breakfast for his family in the kitchen; escorting his “Honey” to New Orleans Saints games and Touchdown Club meetings; or hosting numerous friends and family while regaling them with stories (some of which were true). He loved people – meeting them, teaching them, learning from them and helping them. Hank never met a stranger – whether it was the ladies in the Club Level dining room at the Superdome who called him “Hot Buns” or the young kids working the boat launch in Port Sulphur who called him “Captain” – he cared about and connected with everyone he encountered and strived to make each person feel special. He was born January 25, 1943 as the oldest child to Henry Joseph Bellows and Kathryn Tedrick Bellows in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Hank grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Trinity High School. He attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama where he accomplished two major achievements – graduating with a degree in Business Administration and meeting the love of his life, Beverly. Hank and Beverly lived and raised five children on the Westbank of New Orleans for 50 years. His first job out of college was with General Electric where he worked until he retired more than 40 years later amassing countless awards, accolades and friends along the way. Hank is preceded in death by his parents; his youngest sister and her husband, Cindy and Jim Kennedy of Dayton, Ohio; his brother-in-law Rexford Louis Young, III of Atlanta, Georgia, and his daughter-in-law Amy Bennett Bellows of Atlanta, Georgia. He became known as “Happy” after the birth of his first grandchild 25 years ago. The only things Happy cared about more than fishing, Lundi Gras and the New Orleans Saints, were his family and his faith. He often marshalled the noise and chaos of a house filled with nearly 30 people during special family gatherings and holidays by yelling “Grandchildren of Mine!!” to bring everyone to attention. Happy led the family silly string fights at Easter and prayers at Thanksgiving. He lived his faith every day humbled by all the blessings he was granted in life. Hank was honored with the Order of St. Louis Medallion by Archbishop Philip Hannan and Msgr. Martin Van der Werff for his “Christ-like service” to St. Cletus Parish in Gretna, Louisiana. He is survived by his beloved “Honey,” wife of 55 years, Beverly Young Bellows; his five children Henry William Bellows, Jr. (Susan), Rebecca Bellows Crawford (Michael), Bethany Bellows Bowden (Sidney), Brent Rexford Bellows (Ashley) and Blythe Bellows Lamonica (Neal); and his 13 grandchildren Lauren Crawford, Alexis Bellows, Zachary Crawford, Sarah Bowden, Anna Bowden, John Henry (Jack) Bellows, Sidney Bowden, Davis Lamonica, William Bellows, John Whitt, Sam Henry Lamonica, Luke Lamonica and Pierce Whitt. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Robert Stephen Young of Orlando, Florida; sister Sharon Bellows Jewell (Benjamin) of Louisville, Kentucky, nephew Michael Allan Jewell (Jill) and niece Melissa Jewell Sheffer (Douglas) of Louisville, Kentucky. Family and friends are invited to attend the Visitation on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Rabenhorst Funeral Home located at 825 Government St., Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will be held immediately following the mass at Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge.
