Andrew Lewis Bell, age 74, peacefully passed away in his home on May 29, 2024. His twelve-year battle with cancer came to an end as his wife Konnya, his sons Nate and Zach, and his dog Rinny were there by his bedside to ensure his final moments were surrounded by love and support. He was a man of strong values, unwavering faith, and loved family above all.
Born on Pearl Harbor Day in 1949 to Joe and Jean Bell, Andy lived an adventurous and rambunctious young life with his three siblings on a farm outside Kansas City. He was an inquisitive young man who was interested in how the world worked. He was fascinated by insects and amassed an extensive collection, mounted in cigar boxes, of wasps, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, exotic beetles, and more. Cicadas were his favorite. His collection held some of the rarest—including the ones in the news today.
Andy’s father Joe Bell worked for TWA, and Andy travelled all over world in the 1960s and 70s. One of his favorite memories from that time was when he lived on the Greek island of Mykonos before it was discovered by the very rich. He had seen it in the 1964 Disney film The Moon-Spinners and resolved to go there. When he did, he hitched a ride on a donkey cart down a dirt path to what is today’s famous Paradise Beach. He camped there with some other backpackers, grilling fish speared in Paradise Cove and drinking beer sold by a man named George who had opened a small taberna constructed of reeds growing at the back of the beach. Andy and his friends decided to mark the experience by founding “The Mean Mountain Men of Mykonos” and going forth to create new colonies around the world. That ambition died shortly after on a beach in Guam when Andy and his brother awoke after sleeping in swim trunks in the sand and counted 186 mosquito bites on his brother alone.
Andy attended the Jesuit academy at Rockhurst in Kansas City, where he studied Latin and Greek, as well as physics, chemistry, and advanced math. His thirst for knowledge and adventure, along with a love for math, won him a degree from Kansas University in Civil Engineering. His first job after graduation was building MCI, the new Kansas City airport. Shortly after, he completed training as a commercial pilot, though he never worked as one.
Andy was a superb athlete who played baseball as a child, football and basketball as a teenager, and later studied martial arts under the world-renowned fighter Jim Harrison. He also studied ballroom dancing with his wife Konnya.
Andy was a guy’s guy.
Excited to make something of himself in the world, Andy directed his focus on airports and how to improve them. His career allowed him to design new and upgrade old runways and to connect terminals with rail systems for weary travelers. Andy was the planning commissioner who prepared Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the massive influx of visitors during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Later, he consulted for Sea-Tac in Seattle. He acted as an assistant VP of planning at DFW airport in Dallas, where he led the team that created the automated light rail transportation system, Skylink, currently in use there.
While in Texas, Andy found a passion for sailing. There he bought a sailboat and was often found happily exploring the waters of Lake Grapevine with his loving wife Konnya, his dogs, and on occasion, his two sons. Wonderful memories were made on his sailboat. He relished the excitement of racing along the shoreline with a following breeze, then relaxing with some of Konnya’s handmade dolmas and a Greek salad in a quiet cove. And let’s not forget the epic Texas sunsets. Being on the water and with the people (and dogs) he loved were profound hours for Andy.
In 2012, Andy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer. He was given five years at most. But the man trained by Jim Harrison knew how to fight. He denied that implacable killer for a full twelve years. He counterpunched like the Irish blood and Polish soul he was, courageously drinking the fullest measure of pain from his allotted cup until the very end. He was a man.
After the cancer diagnosis, he fought to make the most of each day, to be there for his wife, to support his family, and to cheer all whom he held close to his heart. During that time, he was able to celebrate his 34th wedding anniversary and watch his family grow. He had time to embrace their achievements, comfort them during hard times, and celebrate their victories. Becoming a grandfather was an especially proud moment for Andy. He would never turn down an opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren, with his son Nate’s two daughters, Sophia and Alexis, and with his son Zach’s newborn lad, Grayson.
Andy’s faith kept him grounded throughout his battle with cancer. He drew strength from his love and trust in God and was thankful to have his family, friends, and the congregation at First Baptist Church Atlanta to help him through both the good and the difficult times.
Andy is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Joseph and Jean Bell. He is survived by his devoted wife Konnya, by his first wife, Mary Lou, by his children from his first marriage, Zach (Kimberly Kersey) and Nate, by his grandchildren, Sophia, Alexis, and Grayson, by his siblings, Pete Bell (Gail Bell) and Christine Mullins, and by many cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Andy was proud of his Irish father and his Polish mother. He would not mind if this traditional Irish farewell were modified to fit his leaving us:
“May the road rise to meet you, Andy. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, my love, my blood, my friend…
May God hold you in the palm of His hand…
And not squeeze so hard next time…
The family asks that instead of sending flowers, make donations to Tunnel to Towers at t2t.org by
A graveside service for Andrew will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30328
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.2