Benny Bellizzi

Today, October 28, a very good friend of mine, Biagio “Benny” Bellizzi, went home to be with the Lord. He had been suffering from a variety of cancer for quite some time. It is always hard for those of us who stay behind, but we have to be thankful for having had the privilege of having met him, that he considered us a friend. For somebody who still has both his parents alive I cannot say that I understand what his daughters and wife are going through, I can only feel empathy.
I worked with Benny in the late 80s when Thomas Cook Travel was based at Two Penn Plaza in New York City. For some reason that I still cannot remember he came to consult me about purchasing his first computer. I did help him purchase his first computer.
At the time the Bellizzis were living in Wayne, NJ in the Packanack Lake area.
In the early 90s when Thomas Cook Travel USA was purchased by American Express Benny did not like the direction that the company was taking, and at the same time of a former co-worker offered him a job in the Tampa area, so the family moved down south. By moving to Florida he would also resolve at the same time the move his wife and him would eventually make when they would retire.
We kept in contact, but it was the winter 94-95 when the Northeast was hit with 17 snow storms, so Benny offered me to come to Tampa as there was a job opening in his company, so I accepted the offer of to stay with them, it gave me a great opportunity to know the family closer, and how they were adjusting to their new lives there. I stayed over a weekend, and their hospitality is something I will never forget.
In 1996 my parents were visiting the US and as they were on their way back to Argentina we decided to go to Disney World, and having the Bellizzi family about a hour away from Orlando we spent the last day with them. My parents still talk about that visit to this day, with very happy memories.
The next time we saw the Bellizzi family was when they came to NJ to celebrate their 40th marriage anniversary.
In 2008 our family went to Orlando, so being so close to their house we could not let the chance of coming to see them go by
It was the last time that I saw Benny.
The last few times I spoke to him he would tell me that he had trouble breathing, that he got tired, and I knew that the illness was starting to take its toll, I knew that life had become more of a hardship.
I am so grateful for his friendship, for the love that he always expressed, and for being blessed by his existence. I am also grateful for God being merciful, and not allowing him to suffer any longer.
I do not believe in longing for the past, so, as Benny goes back home to our creator I will keep those memories close to my heart, keeping in mind how precious life is, and how blessed we are to have friends like him.
Benny, you will be greatly missed. God bless you my friend.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.