Arthur Irving Bell Jr.
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Arthur's Tribute Fund
Arthur's Tribute Fund
Obituary
Arthur Irving Bell Jr., 89, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2021, in Naples, Florida. He was born on
September 3, 1931, to Arthur I. and Leah R. (Radcliffe) Bell. He is survived by his devoted wife of 38
years, Florence; his son, Arthur Bell III (Gibson) of Glyndon, MD; two granddaughters, Mercedes Bucelato
(Justin) of Annapolis, MD and Nicole McLean (Robert) of Baltimore, MD; three great-granddaughters,
Haile, Caroline, and Margaret; his sister, Mary Bell Howser; and many nieces and nephews.
Arthur overcame several obstacles during his early childhood. He often told stories of being “forced” to be
right-handed and maintained that his baby bottle would be dropped to the ground if he reached for it with
his left hand. The debate exists that forcing a child’s “handedness” can cause dyslexia. He was bullied
for this condition that affected his reading, spelling, and writing. Art spent the fourth year of his life in
Kernan Hospital for Crippled Children (the current University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic
Institute) being treated for osteomyelitis, a bacterial infection of the bone suspected to be caused by
drinking unpasteurized milk. It was a lonely stay with no visitors allowed, but he responded well to the
therapy. At fourteen, he was sent to the St. James School, a boarding school in Hagerstown, Maryland
where he graduated in 1949. Art had great respect for St. James and proudly credited them for his
successes in life. He then graduated from the University of Maryland in 1953 with a B.S. in Agriculture.
Arthur was selected to attend the Military Police Training Center at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He served as
a Confinement Specialist at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for two years. Along with a partner, he
established Burgemeister-Bell, Inc. in 1957, a successful plumbing and heating company that included an
underground utility division in 1974. Art was proud to be the only nonunion plumbing contractor in MD. He
was a member of the Maryland Homebuilders Association for many years. In 1994, he received the “Ditch
Digger of the Year” award from the Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland. Later on, his son received
the same award for multiple years, making them the only father and son to be honored for their significant
contributions to the utility industry. Art was called back to Baltimore in 2010 to receive the “AUC of MD
Founders Award”, which represents a lifetime of dedication not only to the AUC but to the construction
industry as a whole. Membership in the National Utility Contractors presented Art with travel opportunities
to conventions and seminars, including a trip to Italy to gain insight into the ancient underground systems
in Rome. Equipment purchases often brought excursions to the factories where the equipment was
manufactured. Art was particularly fond of the German company Leibherr. Dr. Leibherr’s hospitality
always included accommodations at his beautiful hotels in France and Germany.
Art retired from business in 1993 to pursue his love of travel, golf, and gardening and moved full-time to
Ocean City, MD to fish, clam, and crab in the waters of Assawoman Bay. During his lifelong RV
adventures, he traveled as far south as the beautiful beaches of Puerto Penasco, Mexico, as far
northwest as Vancouver BC where he salmon fished from the banks of the Campbell River, and northeast
to Prince Edward Island, his father’s birthplace and where his Scottish ancestors established Bells Point,
south of Cape Traverse. His RV could also be found following the NASCAR circuit with other racing
enthusiasts. Art enjoyed twenty-one years of play at Cedar Hammock Golf and Country Club.
He had a great love for the island of Sint Maarten after honeymooning there in 1983. He returned
annually. Art served as president of the Sea Palace Resort Board from 2007-2018 and was honored to be
named Board Member Emeritus in 2018. He had a tremendous zest for life and was a natural at making
immediate friendships. Art will be remembered for his smile, his love of entertaining, and for sharing a
treasure trove of stories.
Due to Covid-19, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Tribute donations can be made to the
AUC of MD Scholarship Fund, AUC of MD Educational Trust in honor of Arthur Bell Jr.
c/o Elaine Middleton, Executive Director, 2913 Crabapple Lane, Elliott City, MD. 21042.
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