ROBERT E. BELL

February 12, 1933 - May 29, 2021

Robert Eugene Bell was born February 12, 1933 to Eugene and Elsie Bell and died from heart failure on May 29, 2021.

A third generation Redlands native, Bob was born in Redlands Community Hospital, graduated from Redlands High School in 1950 and the University of Redlands in 1954. He began his career at Redlands Federal Savings and Loan, later returning to the University of Redlands to complete his teaching and educational administration credentials. He taught at Redlands High School, McKinley Elementary School and then became principal of Kingsbury Elementary School.

Bob moved into the Redlands Unified School District office as the Director of Educational Media and then became the Director of Educational Media for San Bernardino County. During his tenure as an educator he ushered school technology from filmstrip projectors and reel to reel movies to computers and electronic media. He was a pioneer in the field of distance learning as he strove to provide educational access to the far reaches of San Bernardino County and was fascinated to watch the entire country using remote learning during the pandemic.

After retiring, Bob and his wife Jan enjoyed volunteering with the San Bernardino Symphony and spent many hours transporting instruments to 3rd grade classrooms and teaching the third graders about them.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jan Bell, of Redlands; daughter Liz (Rob) Foster of Redlands; son Steve (Lesley) Mandros Bell of Oakland, stepdaughter Mary (Doug) Hibbard of Corona, stepson Paul (Gina) Blatchley of Redlands and stepdaughter Gayle Wray of Redlands as well as 13 grandchildren.

Services will be held at Cortner Chapel in Redlands on Thursday, June 17th, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Service Association of Redlands at redlandsfamilyservice.org.