Memorial set for Joseph Bell

A celebration commemorating the life and writing of respected longtime journalist Joseph N. Bell is scheduled for Jan. 21.

The event is set to take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m at UC Irvine’s University Club, 801 East Peltason Drive, Irvine.

Bell, a former Daily Pilot columnist, died on Thanksgiving following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The Newport Beach resident was 92.

An Indiana native, Bell studied journalism at the University of Missouri before serving in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned to Missouri and earned his degree. He went on to write for newspapers and magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post, Harper’s, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

For 21 years, he taught nonfiction writing at UC Irvine, where he met his wife, Sherry Angel.

He is survived by Angel; his three children with his late first wife, Janet Hartman; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

His family is hosting the memorial. Space is limited. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation, 4931 Birch St., Suite 2, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

— Jill Cowan

Twitter: @JillCowan