First I want to say that I am grateful to Bello for encouraging me to apply for a faculty position at HCC.  He was very supportive of me in my early years at the Ybor campus.   Bello’s support helped me launch my career as a mathematics professor at HCC.

Here is my Bello story.   In the early 90’s, after I was hired, I often had lunch with Bello in Ybor City.  Usually we met at Don Quixote’s, a wonderful Spanish restaurant, in Ybor Square.  It was located across from the Spaghetti Warehouse — a well-known restaurant that Ybor old-timers will remember.   The owner of Don Quixote’s, who Bello knew of course, was authentically Spanish.   He was “th” Spanish which the Spanish speakers reading this will understand.   The oxtail at the restaurant was awesome!

Bello had invited three young HCC faculty members working at the Ybor campus, William Wilder, Wendy Heir, and me, to lunch.   As many will remember, Bello often took a camera around to take pictures for his books.  This was before cellphone cameras.  During lunch, he noticed a logic statement in the menu and said that this was great since he needed more pictures for his new book.   He said that he would take a picture of us and the logic statement and put it in the book.  We were all exciting that we would have a chance to be a part of one of his books.   Bello proceeded to take a nice picture of the three of us.  

Maybe a year later, Wendy came to me with the newly published book in her hand.  Cheerfully she said that she had gotten her picture in the book.   It occurred to me right away that since we had adopted his book for a course that I taught, I would soon get a chance to show a class that my picture was in their textbook!  Wendy showed me the picture.  My excitement quickly faded.   Apparently, the original picture had been too wide.  Guess who got cut out?

Thank you Bello for the support, the courage to be yourself,  the wonderful energy, and your positive influence on the Universe.   Rest In Peace!

I met Bello in 1997 when I first started working for The Education Channel in Tampa. He was the charismatic and brilliant co-host of Algebra Hotline. Over the years, we grew to be close friends. I was honored to be his technical assistant on numerous projects. I truly loved this man. He was always so kind and thoughtful and never visited us without a plate of delicious Cuban goodies. He had so many talents and such a great smile. I am crushed to know I will never hear his witty humor and amazing stories anymore. 

Rest in peace sir and know that you are loved, missed and never forget “Math is Fun and You Can Do It”!