WILFRED Vernon Bell was remembered as an avid sportsman with a passion for finance during his thanksgiving service at Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in St Andrew on August 29.

A member of the Bell family of Santos Football Club fame, he died on July 22 at age 79 in Columbus, Ohio.

Bell’s family was joined by his schoolmates from St George’s College and Kingston College, which he attended in the 1960s.

Bell played Manning Cup football for Kingston College and in the Major League for Santos, the club his older brother Jackie co-founded with Winston Chung Fah.

Vernon also coached Kingston College in the Manning Cup, Santos in the Major League, and Tivoli Gardens in the National Premier League.

He was also remembered as a solid cricketer in the Sunlight Cup for St George’s College and a wicketkeeper/batsman in the Senior Cup for Lucas Cricket Club.

His younger brother Michael recalled their close bond growing up in Vineyard Town, east Kingston, as the second and third sons in a family of seven children.

“Vernon was like a jelly coconut…tough outside but once yuh bust him open, one side a soft jelly, the other time a little harder,” said Michael.

There were also tributes from his sister, Dr Camille Bell-Hutchinson and Dr Lodi Doonquah.

The Bell family is synonymous with St George’s College and Santos.

Brothers Jackie, Vernon, Michael, Russell, Carl and Neville attended that North Street school. Neville coached St George’s College to multiple urban area Manning Cup and all-island Olivier Shield titles.

A graduate of Long Island University in New York, Vernon Bell was once general manager of Neal and Massy Limited in Kingston.

He is survived by wife Judith, son Dominic, daughter Jacqueline, granddaughter Rebecca and grandson Caleb.

Also attending the service were younger brothers Howard, Douglas and Clifford, as well as members of the sports community including former footballers Neville Oxford, Stratton Palmer, Clive “Busy” Campbell, Derrick Dennisser, Roy Black and Andrew Pryce; and former St George’s College schoolmate Clovis Metcalfe, chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission.

— Howard Campbell

Undated photo of the late Vernon Bell and wife Judith