By Eleni Economides
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
FREMONT, Calif. — During the last months of his life, Taylor Bell carried around a quote in his wallet that he heard in a movie.
“No man can avoid reaching the end of his life.”
Bell reached the end with courage, said friends and family.
Diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2003, Bell was told by doctors he had six months to live. Defying the odds, Bell outlived his diagnosis by 21/2 years before he died Thursday. He was 43.
Born in Oakland on Aug. 2, 1962, Bell grew up in Fremont and attended Bellarmine College Preparatory school in San Jose. After graduating from Bellarmine, Bell attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a bachelor’s degree in evolutionary biology.
Known for his wit and intellect, Bell became a member of the elite MENSA society, taking a test that proved his IQ level was in the top 2 percent of the world’s population.
“We called him ‘Super-G,’” said Greg Harrison, Bell’s colleague and longtime friend.
“The ‘G’ stood for genius. His level of intelligence was incredible.”
Bell then decided he wanted to pursue law, carrying on the family tradition. He studied law at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall, and, in 1988, began practicing law with his father at Bell Law Corp., founded in 1961. His sister, Barbara Liebert, is also an attorney.
Health care law was one of Bell’s passions — he eventually became the general counsel for Washington Hospital and American Medical Response. Although Bell was described by his family as a “ferocious” attorney, he also was known throughout the community for being kind-hearted and well-liked.
“He often took on cases when he knew there would be little or even no income for the firm. If someone needed help, he was there,” said Bell’s sister, Barbara.
In 1991, Bell married his girlfriend Sara. They eventually had three children — McKenzie Ann, now 10, Lawson, 9, and Madison, 5. They separated in 2003.
Bell was an avid reader who often would claim that he could “answer any question — but not about sports.” He loved to read about medical issues, philosophy and history.
Bell loved his two custom Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which he built from custom kits, and several vintage cars that he spent time restoring. He also was a craftsman and handyman.
Known for his sense of humor, Bell never held back when it came to expressing himself, family members said.
“He was provocative. He would always say what others thought but were too shy to mention,” Liebert said.
In August 2005, Bell met Lee Anne Fergerson at a Kenny Chesney concert. Introduced to Fergerson by her brother, Scott Haggerty, Bell instantly connected with her. That same night, Bell informed Fergerson he only had six months to live.
“There is no comparison to other people when you speak about Taylor. He was the most patient, tolerant person,” Fergerson said.
Fergerson stuck by Bell’s side throughout the last year of his life, taking him to chemotherapy appointments and spending every holiday with him.
“We all thought Lee Anne was a saint, jumping in with two feet knowing the situation,” Harrison said.
After receiving the news of his fatal tumor, friends and family said Bell showed outstanding courage — he even worked up until a few months before his death.
“He fought his tumor — he never stopped. He fought always and fought until the last month, never complaining. He is a person who is greatly loved by a lot of people. It’s a remarkable quality he had,” said his father, Bruce Bell of Pleasanton.
In addition to his girlfriend, father and sister, Bell is survived by his mother, Jane Bell of Pleasanton; and his children, McKenzie Ann, Lawson and Madison of Livermore.
Services will begin at 1 p.m. Friday in the Conrad Anderson Room at Washington Hospital, 2500 Mowry Ave. The family requests that any donations be made to a fund for Bell’s children, c/o Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels, 40842 Fremont Blvd., Fremont 94538.