ERNIE ERENIO (LEFTY) BELLO
Ernie Bello, age 80, of Honolulu passed away May 4, 2011 at St Francis Hospice. Born on December 15, 1930 in Camp 9 in Waipahu, he was the second of nine children of Mariano and Modesta Bello. His brothers Elpidio Bello and Dominador Bello and sisters Emily Kam and Elizabeth Dumlao preceded him in death. After graduating from Kahuku High School in 1948, he attended San Mateo Junior College in California. He then served in the Air Force where he met his wife Lorraine, the mother of his 5 children. After leaving the service, he graduated from the UH with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1959. He began his career as a Navy engineer trainee, moved to the State highway department and then to Hawaiian Dredging. He worked for Pacific Construction, Reed and Martin, Mars Constructors before he and the late Charles Otsuka partnered at Tower Construction. Tower built many notable structures throughout the state including the Alika, Lakeview, Kealani and Chandelier condominiums, Honolulu Zoo's Savannah, Molokai High School Gym and Library, St Philomena's Catholic Church, original Wendy's chain and other government and military projects. After he retired from Tower, he worked at KD Construction and served on its Board. He was active in the General Contractors Association, serving as President in 1993. He was a Trustee for the Laborer's Pension Fund. In 2005 he was named Most Outstanding Member in the field of Engineering/Architecture by the Filipino American League of Engineers and Architects. The United Filipino Council of Hawaii gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2007, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce nominated him for Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year. He played semiprofessional baseball in California then softball in community leagues on the Mainland and in Honolulu. An avid "Lefty"golfer, he entered every benefit tournament he could. In 1988, he scored a hole -in - one on the 147 yard ninth hole in the AT&T March of Dimes benefit golf tournament at the Sheraton Makaha resort. He was a charter member of the Honolulu International Country Club. He traveled extensively and aspired to play golf in as many countries as possible. He loved to eat, in particular Chinese and Filipino food and fine dining. He was the only non-Chinese member of the Ten Man gourmet eating club. He inherited his mother's entrepreneurial spirit, strong work ethic, persistence and high energy. He was emphatic about the value of education for his children and grandchildren. He supported anything Filipino and enjoyed an extensive collection of shoes.
He is survived by wife Lorraine; daughters Erlaine Bello-Trombetta (Michael), Reni Bello, Lori Silver (Richard), Erin Bello; son Erik Bello (Doreen); brothers Steven Bello (Alika), Mel Bello (May), Richard Bello; sister Rosalinda Senaha (Stanley); grandchildren Rodney Carvalho, Kelia Oravainen, Kela Bello, Valentina Trombetta, Adam Bello, Allison Bello; great-grandchildren Jayden Kobylanski and Callie Haynes.
ERNIE ERENIO (LEFTY) BELLO
Ernie Bello, age 80, of Honolulu passed away May 4, 2011 at St Francis Hospice. Born on December 15, 1930 in Camp 9 in Waipahu, he was the second of nine children of Mariano and Modesta Bello. His brothers Elpidio Bello and Dominador Bello and sisters Emily Kam and Elizabeth Dumlao preceded him in death. After graduating from Kahuku High School in 1948, he attended San Mateo Junior College in California. He then served in the Air Force where he met his wife Lorraine, the mother of his 5 children. After leaving the service, he graduated from the UH with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1959. He began his career as a Navy engineer trainee, moved to the State highway department and then to Hawaiian Dredging. He worked for Pacific Construction, Reed and Martin, Mars Constructors before he and the late Charles Otsuka partnered at Tower Construction. Tower built many notable structures throughout the state including the Alika, Lakeview, Kealani and Chandelier condominiums, Honolulu Zoo's Savannah, Molokai High School Gym and Library, St Philomena's Catholic Church, original Wendy's chain and other government and military projects. After he retired from Tower, he worked at KD Construction and served on its Board. He was active in the General Contractors Association, serving as President in 1993. He was a Trustee for the Laborer's Pension Fund. In 2005 he was named Most Outstanding Member in the field of Engineering/Architecture by the Filipino American League of Engineers and Architects. The United Filipino Council of Hawaii gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2007, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce nominated him for Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year. He played semiprofessional baseball in California then softball in community leagues on the Mainland and in Honolulu. An avid "Lefty"golfer, he entered every benefit tournament he could. In 1988, he scored a hole -in - one on the 147 yard ninth hole in the AT&T March of Dimes benefit golf tournament at the Sheraton Makaha resort. He was a charter member of the Honolulu International Country Club. He traveled extensively and aspired to play golf in as many countries as possible. He loved to eat, in particular Chinese and Filipino food and fine dining. He was the only non-Chinese member of the Ten Man gourmet eating club. He inherited his mother's entrepreneurial spirit, strong work ethic, persistence and high energy. He was emphatic about the value of education for his children and grandchildren. He supported anything Filipino and enjoyed an extensive collection of shoes.
He is survived by wife Lorraine; daughters Erlaine Bello-Trombetta (Michael), Reni Bello, Lori Silver (Richard), Erin Bello; son Erik Bello (Doreen); brothers Steven Bello (Alika), Mel Bello (May), Richard Bello; sister Rosalinda Senaha (Stanley); grandchildren Rodney Carvalho, Kelia Oravainen, Kela Bello, Valentina Trombetta, Adam Bello, Allison Bello; great-grandchildren Jayden Kobylanski and Callie Haynes.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
