October 8, 2018
Dr. Martin Harry Bell Jr., aged 84, surrounded by his children, died peacefully on October 8, 2018, at the Hospice of Palm Beach County at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. Martin was born March 29, 1934, in Mount Vernon, NY, the son of the late Martin Harry and Margaret Duffy Bell. Martin attended St. Michael’s College in Winooski Park, Vermont. Upon graduating St. Michael’s, he attended the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. While at UB Dental School, he met the love of his life, Susan Taggart, who was working as a nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Martin and Susan were married July 1, 1961. Upon his completion of Dental School and subsequent enrollment in the US Navy as a dentist, they started their journey south to Beaufort, SC. In 1963, they moved to Palm Beach County where Dr. Martin Bell started his dental practice. He practiced dentistry for over 42 years, with his wife Susan working as the office manager for more than 20 years. During his years working as a dentist, Dr. Bell and Susan had developed so many wonderful friendships.
Martin loved spending time at home with his family. He was an avid runner who very often could be seen running with one of his faithful Dalmatians at his side or later running with friends after work at the Palm Beach Gardens Heart Trail. Additionally, Dr. Bell loved to read and invest in the stock market. He would spend hours on his back porch either reading about US history or studying stock reports to determine which companies he would invest in next. Over the years he loved attending his son’s baseball games, his daughters swim meets and volunteering at church, the Lions Club and Indian Guides. No matter what he was always proud to fly his US flag in his front yard.
After retiring from dentistry in 2004, Martin and Susan were able to spend their time traveling and being with their grandchildren in FL and NY. Marty and Susan were always traveling, whether going on cruises to Alaska, traveling throughout the greater United States or traveling to their second home in East Amherst, NY. Marty & Susan would spend the winter months in FL and traveling back to NY for the summer, they especially loved the beautiful changing of the seasons in NY, until it got to cold – this was their signal to head back to FL for the winter.
Martin is survived by his three children, Martha (Mike) Katz and grandchildren Benjamin (Kylie) and Jill of East Amherst, NY, Timothy Bell of Delray Beach, FL, Kevin (Chiara) Bell and grandchildren Chiara and Julianna of Singer Island, FL, and sister Clair Alliegro of Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, and many other relatives and close friends.
Martin is predeceased by his wife Susan, his parents, Martin and Margaret Bell, and his sister Margaret Bell Livingston.
There will be a Celebration of Life service Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 6PM – 8PM, at the Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Center, located at 754 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, FL 33408.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the following organization:
Trustbridge Hospice Foundation
In Memory of Dr. Martin H. Bell Jr.
5300 East Avenue, WPB, FL 33407
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