Good bye,Bob. It was always a pleasure to be with you and an honor to work with you. You started on the city desk a day before I arrived, in September, 1962, and unstintingly shared what I needed to know that afternoon. You never stopped being generous and while you were a fine professional newspaperman, I will remember you as a friend. My heart goes out to Patty and the whole Bell family.

Bob was a hardworking, careful, ethical newsman, part of the incomparable newsroom team that I remember with fondness from my and Mary Anne's time at INI.

A newspaperman's newspaperman.

i watched bob grow from a copy boy at the star in the late 1950s into a superb reporter. he was serious about his work and fun to with away from the office. he was, as bill benner sp aptly described him, a newspaperman's newspaperman.

I've been trying to think of something different to say about Bob than my Facebook comment to John Bansch, in between memories of all the years I've known Bob (just slightly long than you John!)
So much to remember, and to say, but it boils down to he was a sweet guy as well as a good reporter.

I will carry great memories of Bob Bell to my own deathbed. Funny, irreverent, smart, smart-mouthed. When I was on police beat and he was an ACE, his first words to me most shifts was: Whatdoyagotformetoday? Usually I had nothing. So Bob would give me a tip to follow or promote a cop shop short I managed to dredge up to the split page or sometimes to the front if it was really slow.

Then, at 15 seconds after the 6 p.m. deadline, we'd celebrate at Yody's regardless.

As always, though, Bill said it best.

Sigh!

Another reminder of the end of the days when The Star mattered.

Thanks all for the kind words and great memories. There are certainly a lot of stories to tell!I know it's been especially nice for my mom to have many of you reach out to her (either on the phone, or through comments such as these). We appreciate all of it.