Robert Belden
May 28, 1927 — December 29, 2009
Robert T. Belden, a long time resident of Darien, CT died at home on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Belden, 82, was the husband of Therese McKenna Belden.
He was born in Norwalk on May 28, 1927, to the late Merrill A. and Mary Rose Kennelly Belden. He was raised in the St. Vincent Ferrer’s Parish in Manhattan, graduated from the Rhodes School, and enlisted in the United States Army.
A proud soldier, he was a Veteran of World War II serving as a rifleman in the third Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, during the American occupation zone of Berlin, Germany.
He graduated from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY with a BA and was selected as a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Belden received an MS degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
He married his grammar school sweet heart, Therese McKenna, in Manhattan on October 22, 1939.
His sales and marketing career started with The General Foods Corp. selling JELLO from the trunk of a 1950 Plymouth Coupe. He sold door to door on the west side of Manhattan.
He was a founding member and investor in Food Co. Inc. Established in 1962, a computerized system distributor to the food service industry. The concept of one order, one invoice, and one delivery was revolutionary to the industry. Prior to retirement, he was the Senior Vice President of the Juice Bowl Division of Campbell Soup Co.
Besides his wife, Mr. Belden is survived by his daughters, Christine and William Tschernjawski of Darien, Therese and Brian Hennessy MD of Darien, his son Robert and wife Kathleen of Darien. He is also survived by his two loving sisters, Rosemary Gleason of Pleasantville, NY and Jeanne Galluzzo and husband Don of Ormond Beach, FL. He also leaves eight beautiful grandchildren, Laura and Julia Belden, Brian, Donal and James Hennessy and Eleanor, Clare and Brendan Belden. Mr. Belden was predeceased by two sons, James and William, and sister Rita Lessard.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 10AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norwalk Hospital Foundation Hospice Fund, 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 or the St. Thomas More Outreach program.
He was born in Norwalk on May 28, 1927, to the late Merrill A. and Mary Rose Kennelly Belden. He was raised in the St. Vincent Ferrer’s Parish in Manhattan, graduated from the Rhodes School, and enlisted in the United States Army.
A proud soldier, he was a Veteran of World War II serving as a rifleman in the third Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, during the American occupation zone of Berlin, Germany.
He graduated from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY with a BA and was selected as a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Belden received an MS degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
He married his grammar school sweet heart, Therese McKenna, in Manhattan on October 22, 1939.
His sales and marketing career started with The General Foods Corp. selling JELLO from the trunk of a 1950 Plymouth Coupe. He sold door to door on the west side of Manhattan.
He was a founding member and investor in Food Co. Inc. Established in 1962, a computerized system distributor to the food service industry. The concept of one order, one invoice, and one delivery was revolutionary to the industry. Prior to retirement, he was the Senior Vice President of the Juice Bowl Division of Campbell Soup Co.
Besides his wife, Mr. Belden is survived by his daughters, Christine and William Tschernjawski of Darien, Therese and Brian Hennessy MD of Darien, his son Robert and wife Kathleen of Darien. He is also survived by his two loving sisters, Rosemary Gleason of Pleasantville, NY and Jeanne Galluzzo and husband Don of Ormond Beach, FL. He also leaves eight beautiful grandchildren, Laura and Julia Belden, Brian, Donal and James Hennessy and Eleanor, Clare and Brendan Belden. Mr. Belden was predeceased by two sons, James and William, and sister Rita Lessard.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 10AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Norwalk Hospital Foundation Hospice Fund, 34 Maple Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 or the St. Thomas More Outreach program.
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