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BELL -- Robert Bell, long-time Corrales civic leader elected to the Village Council in 2004, died at his home in Corrales on Wednesday, March 15, 2006. Robert was born in Denver, Colorado in 1949, the son of Carroll and Elaine Wyrick Bell. He earned a PhD in English literature at the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. At 56, he succumbed to a particularly aggressive cancer just 12 days after ground-breaking for the new skate park at the Corrales Recreation Center that will bear his name. Respected for his courage to do what he felt was right, Robert was in the forefront of much positive change in Corrales over the past 22 years. He was a leader of the politically powerful civic group Corrales United 1985-95; he served on the Corrales Municipal Charter Commission 1990-92; and on the Corrales Planning and Zoning Commission 1999-2003. He served on the board of the non-profit Corrales Recreation, Inc. raising funds to purchase the pasture that has become the recreation center, and was a founder of the Corrales Land Trust, an early attempt to preserve farmland. A master pun-maker and discussion group guide for contemporary literature, he was known for his intelligence and humor, and for commitment to Corrales values. Among his favorite literary quotes was the following by William Saroyan. "Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?" Robert taught English literature at the University of New Mexico before entering the telecommunications business, working for MCI and then AT&T. Robert is survived by his wife of nearly 21 years, Susan Bell; sons, Michael of Falmouth, MA, and Jonathan of Denver, CO; mother, Elaine Ellis and husband Phil of Denver, CO; brother, James Bell of Denver, CO; sister, Rebecca Huiskens of Michigan; and former wife Paulette Bell of Denver, CO. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, April 9, 2006 at 1:00 PM at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales, 966 Old Church Rd., Corrales, NM with Monsignor Michael Schamp officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to one of the following: the Robert Bell Skate Park Fund, c/o Corrales Recreation, Inc., P.O. Box 1778, Corrales, NM 87048 or Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, Hospice, P.O. Box 26666, Albuquerque, NM 87125; or New Mexico Oncology, 4901 Lang, Albuquerque, NM 87109. Arrangements by Vista Verde Mortuary Rio Rancho, New Mexico 892-9920
        Published on: Sun March 19, 2006