After a hard-fought battle, Cancer has again taken a beautiful soul, James Bellavia, 69, of Niagara Falls, on February 6, 2023, at his residence. Jim was a wonderful partner, husband, father and mentor to our son. He was full of life and love. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Lenora (Farrell) Bellavia and his loving son, Matthew. He was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Mary (Pugliese) Bellavia, his brother in-law, Thomas Hurley, his niece, Cara Hurley, and his great niece, Mia Hurley. He will be sadly missed by his sisters, Janet Curry, Judith Hurley (Mark), his brother Sam (Carol) Bellavia, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbours. Jim is one of those people that you like immediately, and that is getting to be all too rare these days.
Below is Jim’s obituary, told in his own words:
“After leaving home in the free-wheeling days of 1969 through the 1970’s I migrated my way to Los Angeles, via Hallandale Beach, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona, finally landing in Los Angeles, California.
I landed a job as a gofer for a minor entertainment company Don Kelley Organization who managed Wolfman Jack, Little Anthony and others. As inevitable things change in the entertainment field, so did my jobs. The move to greener pastures brought me to Las Vegas, Nevada. After working odd jobs to pay for dealer school, I landed a job as a casino dealer. I shortly realized the casino business was not for me. Having been trained, so to speak in the marketing business, I thought I would try my luck at one of the daily newspapers, the Las Vegas Sun. I had a very successful run in the advertising business for 7 years. Before leaving Las Vegas for my first early retirement in Colorado, I had a small advertising consulting business that published a monthly senior citizen magazine.
While bumming around Colorado, I met and befriended a restaurant manager at the place where I ate breakfast daily, The Kettle Restaurant, named Al Fournel. Al made the food service industry sound so interesting so I decided to hitch my wagon to Al. For the next 3 years, I became heavily involved with the food and beverage business. After working with Al and learning as much as I could at a rapid pace, I went on the road as a trouble shooter for the Kettle Restaurants. This new adventure brought me to Jackson, Mississippi. While I loved the restaurant business, I was longing for my home roots so I decided to move back to Niagara Falls.
After arriving back to Niagara Falls, I saw firsthand the boom of the Canadian crowds that frequented the nightclubs on Third Street. I opened Gentleman Jim’s Pizzeria on Third Street, which was purchased from Jimmy Laughlin. After much success in the pizza business, I decided to build a night club on the Third Street strip called Gibby’s Island. Gibby’s was open for 7 years. I met many great people – Canadians and Americans – who became lifelong friends. I always cherished those fond memories, and of course, meeting my future wife, Lenora Farrell. After the demise of the Canadian clientele, I found it best to close the business and enter my 2nd retirement and take on the most important job in raising my son, Matthew. I ask how one person could ever be blessed with all of the wonderful groups of family and friends that I have met along this highway we call life.”
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 12 from 1 – 5 PM at M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 MILITARY ROAD, NIAGARA FALLS, NY 14304, where funeral services will begin on Monday at 11 AM. Interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Niagara Falls, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to Niagara Hospice or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.
