James Russell Bell, 79, died peacefully on Friday, May 19, 2023 at the Jack Byrne Palliative Care Center of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center due to complications related to Parkinson's disease. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Jim was born on July 16, 1943 in Buffalo NY, the son of Sylvester Bell, a plumber, and his wife Katherine (nee Sullivan), a homemaker, and grew up in Kenmore NY with his brother and two sisters. He graduated second in his class from Kenmore West High School in 1961 (holding the title of Upstate Western NY Chess Champion), went on to graduate from Harvard University in 1965 with a Bachelor degree in physics, but fell in love with biology. In 1969 he graduated from New York University Medical School and completed his internship and cardiology fellowship at Bellevue Hospital where he met his future wife, a nurse anesthetist, Veronica Kelleher, (or "Bonnie" to her friends). Jim and Bonnie quickly fell in love, had 2 sons, and after his time in the Army Reserves, escaped the city to live in the hills of Norwich VT, becoming the Chief of Cardiology at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT, where he could care for patients without worry about billing or health insurances.

Jim loved his profession and spent 41 years as a dedicated cardiologist and beloved physician at the VA. Jim also loved teaching, and soon after arriving in the Upper Valley, he became an associate professor at Dartmouth Medical School as an instructor, teacher, and advisor, eventually playing a significant role in the education of the second year classes in the "Scientific Basis of Medicine" course, and the fourth year classes in their "Health, Society and the Physician" course. Jim taught for 31 years, winning the title of "Teacher of the Year" four times. In his role as physician and professor, Jim was a pioneer in the practicing and teaching of mindfulness and compassion in medicine.

Jim had many hobbies and interests including bird watching, playing golf, and sailing with his family. He was an avid reader and a collector of books and continued reading with his VA book club book friends until the end of his life. He studied opera and music and was an accomplished piano player. His biggest complaint of the COVID years was the limitations to his regular poker game with his friends, where he would regularly relieve them of their money. He was dedicated to the Boston Red Sox but was a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan. Jim was a practicing Buddhist and gained much comfort from his commitment to live in the moment. He was an active member of Valley Insight Meditation Society, and approached his learning of Buddhism like a child, but was respected by his peers like a sage.

Jim was the beloved husband of Veronica "Bonnie" (nee Kelleher) for 54 years, loving father of Jamie (Lauren) Bell and Brendan (Kathy) Bell, devoted grandfather to Connor, Ryan and Brady Bell, dear brother of Kathy (Tom) DeLoughry, Michael (Melanie) Bell, and Sue Ann (Jerry) Miller. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: Visitation will be from 5-8 pm, Friday, June 2, 2023 at the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hanover NH. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, in the Kellogg Medical Auditorium, Rm 200, with a celebratory luncheon immediately to follow.

Family and friends are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial contribution in Jim Bell's name to The Audubon Society (https://www.audubon.org ) or to the AVA Gallery (https://avagallery.org/support-us/ ) or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (https://www.michaeljfox.org ).