Robert Bell

Robert (“Bob”) Herrick Bell, 90, of Denver, Colorado, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

Bob was born on December 28, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from Shawnee Mission High School in 1949, he attended the University of Colorado Boulder (“CU”), graduating with a bachelor's degree in business in 1953 and a master’s degree in finance in 1954. While attending CU, Bob was an active member of the Navy ROTC and served as the President of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. After graduation he served as an officer in the US Navy and continued his service in the Naval Reserve for several years.

In 1956, Bob joined the brokerage firm Smith Barney. He rode for the brand and its successors loyally and proudly his entire 42-year career. He retired as Senior Vice President in 1998. Bob’s relationship with the firm and his Smith Barney/Morgan Stanley work colleagues continued beyond retirement. He cultivated these relationships with great pride, interest, and care.

Bob was a lover of the outdoors, and an avid collector of Western and folk art. As a suffering CU football fan, his loyalties turned to the Denver Broncos, Duke basketball, and Stanford football. Bob treasured conversations with family and friends, storytelling and asking good questions. He will be remembered as a dedicated, devoted, and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, friend, fraternity brother and work colleague. His good humor; keen curiosity; love of the arts, nature, and wordsmithing; and optimistic outlook on life were felt by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched.

Bob is survived by his wife of 21 years, Joni Carey Bell; daughter Kate (Scott) Stubenvoll of Wheaton, Illinois, sons Steve (Susan) Bell of Menlo Park, California and Peter (Liz) Bell of Basalt, Colorado; 3 grandchildren, Tyler, Derek, and Avery Bell; stepson John (Angi) Carey of Austin, Texas; 4 step grandchildren, Anna and Miles Carey, and James (Britany) Reedy and Patrick (April) Reedy; and a step great grandson Patrick Reedy, Jr. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Jess Vardeman Bell and Olive Luthera House; brother Jack Newman Bell; and stepdaughter Margy Carey Reedy.

A private family celebration of life will be held graveside at a future date in Holden, Missouri, where he will be put to rest next to his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the John Austin Cheley Foundation, a partner of Cheley Colorado Camps that was a formative summer camp experience for Bob, his children, and grandchildren. Please direct your gift in memory of Robert H. Bell. Gifts may be made to https://athousandsummers.org/tribute, by phone at 1.720.981.2532 ext. 100 or by mail: John Austin Cheley Foundation, 1420 N. Ogden St. #102, Denver, CO 80218.

Please share memories of Bob and condolences with his family by signing the Tribute Wall above.