Saint Francis University lost a beloved member of its family earlier this week when Print Shop Supervisor Beth Bellock died unexpectedly. Beth assisted in the production of this publication for many years.
God blesses us by placing special people in our lives and Beth was a blessing to anyone who got to know her. She was gentle, kind and warm-hearted. She served as a “mom-away-from-home” for many Print Shop work-study students over the last three decades. She would decorate her office in Scotus Hall – and later Raymond Hall – with these students’ pictures, the same way a mom adorns the kitchen refrigerator with photos of her children.
Beth encouraged her work-study students when they were preparing for exams; she consoled and counseled them when they were dealing with life’s challenges; she attended their weddings; she shared pictures of their babies. She loved these students the way she loved her three sons, Chad, Brett and Scott.
Our University Print Shop had a warm, “feels-like-home” vibe to it and this was not because of the heat coming off the machines. It was because of Beth.
I would call her early in the week when we were putting together an issue of this newspaper and let her know “Beth, it’s a Troubadour week.”
She would always remind me of our “deal” during these conversations: she would proofread and print draft and final copies of the newspaper if I supplied her with some chocolate in return. Hershey’s Krackel with crisped rice – the ones in the red wrappers – were her favorite.
We would then complete our transaction – chocolate for Troubadour – and I would always remind her not to be selfish, but to share the chocolate with her work-study students. I would say this because it made her first sigh and then smile. Beth was the opposite of selfish: she was as kind and generous and thoughtful a person as you will find in this world.
We extend our condolences to Beth’s sons and all the members of her family, as well as her friends. Beth Bellock made Saint Francis a special place – and the world a better place – and she will be missed.
