Eleanora C Bell

Eleanora “Nora” (Clark) Bell

March 11,1930- December 1, 2023

Nora Bell (nee Clark) took her last breath on 12/1/2023 after giving her last “instructions” the day before. Her family is glad to note that she died peacefully and that she was able to leave

Phoebe Home without having to climb down a rope made of bedsheets outside her window, as she often threatened. Born on March 11,1930 to Eleanora Hess Clark

and Bradford N. Clark in White Plains, NY, she was a compassionate individual who pictured herself as a defender of the down trodden and a champion for those who needed help. She

was a local activist for issues related to mental health, housing and homelessness. A frequent contributor to the Morning Call letters section, Nora was always quick to offer

her opinions, and regardless of the side of the issue she took, readers could count on the fact that her offerings would be thoughtful, and well reasoned. When the local State Hospital began

downsizing by pushing its patients back into the community, regardless of their skills or abilities to cope, she and her husband of 57 years Robert A. (Bob) Bell purchased a 3 unit

apartment building across the street from their home in downtown Allentown and created a group home. For years she served as a “house mom’ to twelve former S.H. patients, helping

them with meals and routine living skills needed to integrate them back into society, Nora and Bob then began to buy up other properties in the neighborhood, cleaning them

up to provide decent affordable housing for inner city residents. Her dedication to improving living conditions in her own neighborhood led her to realize that both

renters and landlords had issues that required assistance in dealing with each other. She became active in both local and state landlord associations in a desire to influence

laws affecting housing rentals, eventually serving as an officer. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to create an internet based housing rental business called RentalHunters designed

to make the process of matching landlords with prospective tenants easier and more efficient for both parties.  She led a fulfilling life of service beginning with

roles as a PTA volunteer, as a Cub Scout Den  Mother, as a Girl Scout troop leader, as a volunteer library aide, then later as a Stephen Ministry Deacon for First Presbyterian Church

where she was a member for over 60 years. For many years, Nora served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Gateway School, a local charter school for children with learning

disabilities. She also served as a board member for Lexie’s Dream, an organization dedicated to helping disabled or handicapped people to live independently.

A Bachelors degree from Douglass College (NJ) at age 38 and subsequent dual Masters degrees from Rutgers University in Education Psychology and Student Personnel allowed her

to serve as Branch Librarian for Allentown Public Library’s NE Branch at 6th and Washington Sts, and later as Director Of Placement for Northampton Area Community

College. Nora loved to travel both with, and without Bob and her children. Her love of the water led her often to Windjammer cruises with Bob, many family trips to the Outer Banks in North

Carolina, to Canada’s maritime provinces, and to the Colorado River which she traveled from its origin point to the Hoover Dam through the Grand Canyon.. She made the trip three times,

twice in dories, and once in a raft. The first dory adventure was a trip reenacting canyon explorer John Wesley Powell’s original trip down the Green and Colorado Rivers through

the Grand Canyon, a trip she proudly shared with Sierra Club Executive Director David Brower and legendary Grand Canyon river runner/ boatman, environmentalist, and

conservationist Martin Litton. Other rafting highlights included trips down the Rogue River in Oregon and the Gauley River in West Virginia. She prided herself on traveling into every

continental US State, treasured trips to England, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand, and enjoyed sailing to several of the Caribbean Islands. Surviving Nora are sisters Phoebe Kline of

McLean, Va, and Sara Reeves of Alpine, NJ. Her children Robert A. Bell Jr (Rob) of Allentown, John B. Bell of Trexlertown, Pa, Eleanora S. Bell (Nonie) of Newark, DE, and

Jay T. Bell also of Allentown. Grand Children Justin Bell (Wyncote Pa), Cassidy Bell of Slatington. PA, and Jennifer Dill of Easton, PA Great Grand Children Walter F. Bell, Kathryn F. Bell, and Franklin F. Bell all of Wyncote PA.  Also step granddaughter Bobbi Riddick of Allentown. Gifts in her honor can be made to the animalrescue of your choice, to Douglass College Associate Alumni or to First Presbyterian Church of Allentown PA Deacons. A Celebration of Nora’s life is being planned by the family for the spring.

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