Obituary of Richard S. Bellittieri

MOUNT DESERT — Richard S. Bellittieri of Mount Desert, formerly of North Babylon, N.Y., and Denver, Colo., died at 60 years of age. Born Feb. 1, 1952, to Louise M. (née Kenny) and Anthony J. Bellittieri of North Babylon, N.Y., Richard “Rick” Bellittieri attended St. Joseph’s Elementary School and graduated from North Babylon High School in 1970. He went on to earn an MSW from University of Maine at Orono and a BA in accounting from Macintosh College, Dover, N.H. He worked as a counselor at the Conners-Emerson Elementary School in Bar Harbor for several years before leaving to pursue a career in accounting and financial planning. An active outdoorsman, he loved to garden, hike, swim, run and fish and spent many happy hours exploring the wilderness. Rick was schooled in wooden boat building at Bath. An experienced carpenter and handyman, he performed renovations on his own properties and occasionally did work for friends and neighbors. An enthusiastic ballroom dancer, he enjoyed participating in organized dance programs and made many friends through that interest. He supported his community by volunteering his accounting services to help students prepare college loan applications, friends with tax filing and other pro bono work. Rick retained his youthful exuberance and curiosity about life, was well read and a true steward of the Earth’s resources. He was an intelligent, kind, generous and intuitive man and will be sorely missed by his many friends and relatives. A marriage of 10 years ended in divorce. Mr. Bellittieri is survived by a brother, Edward Bellittieri; sister, Jeanne Bricker; and several nieces and nephews. His parents; brother, Robert; sister, Mary Lou Ferraro; and nephew, Edward Bellittieri Jr., predeceased him. A celebration of his life will be conducted on the Sea Princess cruising from Northeast Harbor over Somes Sound, a favorite vista and beautiful salt water body, Sept. 7, 2013. Mourners should assemble 3 p.m. at the town pier, 41 Harbor Drive, Mount Desert.