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Dante S. "Danny Bell" Bellacqua
"Danny Bell", 89 in Peabody, died on Monday, August 21st. A former resident of Everett, Mr. Bellacqua had been living with his daughter in Peabody before recently being moved to the Twin Oaks Nursing Home in Danvers. Born in Cambridge on July 29, 1917, Dante was the son of the late Vincenzo Bellacqua, and Maria Iovanni Bellacqua. He was raised and educated in Boston and Somerville, MA, and proudly and honorably served his country in the Navy during World War II as a member of the naval parachute corps in the Pacific. Mr. Bellacqua played the trumpet and was a professional musician before the war, but upon his return went to work in the garment industry. In 1959 he left a successful career as the chief cutter for several top garment manufacturers, including College Town and Girl Town, and joined his brothers in a camera business in Boston. Bell Camera and Sound Company soon moved to the forefront of the industry in Greater Boston and New England as the use of audio-visual equipment in education and other industries proliferated in the 1960's and 70's. Known affectionately as Danny Bell, Mr. Bellacqua counted among his many loyal customers: New England Telephone, Harvard University, Boston University, Beth Israel Hospital, and Gillette. After losing part of his larynx to cancer in 1971, and the death of his younger brother, Colombo, he continued to operate his business, based in Everett, for another 25 years until he retired in 1996 at the age of 79. Mr. Bellacqua was also predeceased by another brother, Gaetano "Guy" Bellacqua. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Ida Capuano Bellacqua of Peabody; brother, Anthony Bellacqua of Virginia; brother-in-law Bennie Capuano and his wife Carmela of Everett; daughter, Donna DiGiovanni and her husband Philip of Peabody; son Stephen and his wife Helen of Selkirk, NY; son Paul of Kingston, NH, formerly of Andover; daughter-in-law Debra of Methuen; grandchildren Philip DiGiovanni of Malden, Suzanne Bellacqua Hynes of South Weymouth, Cara DiGiovanni of Melrose, Paul Bellacqua Jr. of Haverhill, and his namesake, Daniel Bellacqua of Methuen; great-grandchildren: Brendan and Brian Hynes of South Weymouth, and Gabriella Marie Bellacqua of Haverhill; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are with Salvatore Rocco and Sons Funeral Home, 331 Main Street, EVERETT, MA. Family and friends may call on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006 from 4 to 8 pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Aug. 25th at 10:00 am at St. Anthony's Church in Everett. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dante's memory to Hospice of The North Shore, 10 Elm Street, Danvers, MA 01923 www.hns.org.
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