Dennis Achilles Bellone

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Dennis Achilles Bellone of Saratoga Springs passed away on Wednesday morning, September 21, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, suddenly but peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. The son of Rose Bliven and Archie (Achilles) Bellone, Dennis was born in Clifton, NJ on January 29, 1941. He spent most of his early years in Cortland, NY before his family moved to Yorktown Heights in Westchester County, an event which he said changed his life and opened him to many possibilities. Graduating in 1959 from Yorktown Heights High School, he was active in sports, captain of the football team, and Class President. He formed friendships there that endured, among them with Thomas Azzari of Taos, NM, who, though not a blood relative, was his true brother. After high school, he attended Manhattan Community College, supporting himself by polishing floors at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and parking cars at a local country club. Though his college career suffered several interruptions, he worked in any way he could to successfully complete his education, graduating in 1966 from Richmond Professional Institute, (now VCU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in iCommercial Arts and Communications. He began his advertising career in New York City during the “Wild West, Mad Men days of Madison Avenue” at Sandgren and Murtha, where he produced industrial logos along with the likes of Raymond Loewy. After three years, he and his wife, Carol, whom he had married in 1961, moved to her family farm in Westerlo, NY. Again, Dennis formed friendships that continued through the rest of his life, among them, with Stephen Jeffrey, of NYC. He came Upstate, as he said, “with bell-bottom pants, a plaid tie and a huge mustache, straight out of the City” and first worked in Schenectady in GE’s internal design agency under Jack Welch. Through subsequent years, he formed a variety of Albany regional agencies, both with partners; (including, among many others, Peter Miller and Kurt Pelton); and alone–mostly in businesses whose names ended with “& Bellone.” The last, from which he retired in 2013, was Mehigan, Bellone & Associates in Schenectady. Every one of his associates was “family.” His concern for and generosity toward employees and friends was always present. His smile and sense of humor will be missed immeasurably. Of seven siblings, he was predeceased by his brothers Peter Bliven Bellone and Michael Achilles Bellone. His elder son, Dennis, Jr. died in 2015. He is survived by his son, and Dennis’s grandson, Gabriel Achilles Bellone of NJ. He is also survived by his daughter, Jessica Bellone; her husband, Peter Mullen; and daughters, Georgia and Lauren of London, England; and by son, Jacob, who, along with Emma Folkins and their daughter, Grace, live at the Bellone family Lake house which was built, literally, by Dennis, at Galway Lake. His sisters survive, as well. They are Rosemary Bellone and Mary Bridget Bellone of Richmond, VA; Patricia Bellone Wray of Roanoke Rapids, NC; and Kathleen Bellone Radford of Midlothian, VA. He is also survived by Lisa Mehigan; his “muse,” business-and life-partner; and a large network of friends and extended family. A memorial service will be held at 4001 Wilson Lane, Galway Lake, NY on October 15, 2016. Check http://www.tunisonfuneralhome.com for details which will be available shortly.