Charles Lawrence Bellamy

Birth date: Jul 31, 1951 Death date: Aug 19, 2013

After a long illness, Dr. Charles (Chuck) Bellamy passed away on Monday August 19th. Born in Southern California, he was raised and nurtured by his loving parents Charles and Ivalou Bellamy. His mother often asked him throughout h Read Obituary

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Al Samuelson

636w ago

It is about the saddest news weâ??ve gotten in a very long time â?? of Chuckâ??s passing. Iâ??ve known Chuck for many years â?? in fact, he applied for one of our positions a long time ago. Through Chuckâ??s career, we have collaborated insofar as getting study material to him and providing incentives to study this & that from various corners of the Pacific and Asia.One of my favorite times in the field was when Chuck, with Steve Lingafelter, Chris Reid, and I teamed up for fieldwork in Fiji. In fact, thatâ??s when I met you when you joined Chuck towards the on Viti Levu as we were finishing our assignment. That was my only time in the field with Chuck, and Chuck was a super delight to be with, as his humor and good nature never ceased â?? it just kept coming and coming!One of the everlasting memories that I had of Chuck was on Taveuni when I emerged from the forest after being lost for awhile. Chuck was on the road looking and calling for me just as I cleared through the thick brush! Lo & Behold, there was Chuck , the road, and I think I had never appreciated seeing another person In my whole life, as seeing Chuck at that moment! Rose, I hope to the fullest, that you will do as well as possible over the loss of Chuck. With much Aloha, AlAl Samuelson, Honolulu, Hawaii

Phillip Harpootlian

636w ago

It is difficult to imagine a more generous soul. Even though he wasn't able to see the final product, only proofs, I want to believe that he would be very pleased with our soon to be released volume – 'Jewel Beetles of South Carolina'. We were able to incorporate many features that he had wanted to see in a buprestid volume. I am very grateful for all his help and encouragement and hopefully others will find it useful.

Jason Hansen

636w ago

As relatively new admirer of buprestids I knew Dr. Bellamy only through email. He was always encouraging and positive for which I continue to be grateful. While In graduate school I requested one of his few remaining original copies of Fisher's Chrysobothris key and he sent it to me! When I emailed and told him I was jumping up in the air with excitement he responded enthusiastically by asking for a picture:) At the time I was working with a photo copy that was falling apart from so much use and was extremely happy to have an original. It remains a treasured and useful part of my entomological library and I hope one day to pass it on. Even though we never met in person I could tell from our correspondence Chuck was an amazing person both professionally and on a personal level. I wish him and his family well. His loss is felt by myself and other burgeoning coleopterists.

Norm Woodley

636w ago

I also first met Chuck at the USNM in the 1980s. I was not interested in buprestids as much as I am now, but we had a number of pleasant and insightful conversations about them. Even though it was not part of his "official" duties as a postdoc at the USNM, he did a huge amount of work on the buprestid collection that improved it tremendously…it essentially had not been curated much at all after 1940. It showed his great passion for buprestids! As I got more and more interested in buprestids, Chuck was always ready with information and advice, and we did one book review together. His published work, especially his incredible world catalog, will be used by others for decades to come. I only wish that I had been able to go on a collecting expedition with him…I'm sure that I would have learned a great deal! Chuck will be fondly remembered by the many people he encouraged and mentored over his long career, and he will be missed by all.

Juan Francisco Limã³n

636w ago

I learned about Chuck after he and Art Evans published an Inordinate Fondness For Beetles, and through some of the articles and book reviews he published in the Coleopterist Bullitin. Then, some years later, during the brief time he worked there, I met Chuck at the L.A. County Natural History Museum . He and I went out for lunch a few times and it was during this time that I started to know a little bit about Chuck. He was a candid man who was willing to help any time. He assisted me in Identifying Buprestids and showed interest in some of the Cerambycid Beetles I collected. For the knowledgeable person that he was, he was humble and non-judgemental about the people who were not as knowledgeable as he was, and candidly answered any Biology questions that I asked him. My condolences to his wife, step sons, grandaughters and the rest of his family.Thanks Chuck for the good memories!Juan Francisco LimÃ³n

Terry Erwin

636w ago

Truly, one of the very good guys has passed from among us. Safe journey, Chuck, into infinity. We'll miss you.Terry Erwin

Brian Farrell

636w ago

I first met Chuck at the USNM in the 1980's on his visits to the Casey Room where I had a desk in grad school. I was lucky to know him and George Vogt through innumerable conversations about plant-feeding beetles (and the people who study them!). Chuck always had a gentle and wry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. He had a great perspective on life, and I enjoyed our many hours of talking. Later, we shared a student whom Chuck graciously mentored in buprestid systematics, and Chuck was always extremely generous and thoughtful in his time and observations. A very good man who leaves a hole that will not be filled. Brian Farrell

Barney Streit

636w ago

While collecting with Chuck in Sonora, I convinced him to write an article about his aspirator, which included a Fram gasoline filer, for the Scarabs newsletter. It came untitled, so I named it "Pimp Your Aspirator." This was a take on television's "Pimp My Ride" where cool things are added to a car. Later, when compiling the Index, I of course referenced the article under Chuck's name as well as the word "aspirator." I wrote Chuck I had considered also referencing his article under the word "pimping" but decided cheesy humor had no place in the Index. Chuck wrote back "I admire your restraint!"

John Lawrence

636w ago

I was saddened by the news of Chuck Bellamy's death. He was not only a top notch beetle systematist but a great guy with a good sense of humor. He and Rose put me up for a few days during my visit to Sacramento a few years ago, and they were fine hosts. Chuck will be greatly missed by a lot of people, this one included.John Lawrence, The Palms, Queensland, Australia.

Steve Lingafelter

636w ago

Although we had seen each other at Coleopterist Society meetings, I really got to know Chuck on a trip to Fiji in 2005. My flight from DC to Honolulu stopped in Los Angeles where he came aboard. We were seatmates and talked the entire way to Hawaii (Chuck had a somewhat booming voice, so I'm sure the drowsy passengers around us were not too pleased!). Chuck was not in great health then, but was a trooper for the entire trip, island hopping around Fiji. That trip with Chuck and other coleopterists brought nothing but many beetles and good memories. While we may have differed politically, or otherwise, he never let those differences impact our professional relationship. Chuck will be missed deeply but never forgotten! –Steve Lingafelter

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