Obituary: George R. Bedell, 89; Former North Haven Resident

George Rodney Bedell, 89, of Wallingford, died on Monday, January 2, at Regency House of Wallingford. He was born February 3, 1927, in Webster Groves, Missouri, to Rodney and Mary Louise (Lister) Bedell.

After graduating from high school, he attended Iowa State College and Miami University of Ohio while enrolled in the V-12 Navy Training program, then graduated from Grinnell College and traveled to Mexico to continue his studies. He served with the Army (HQ Co. 8th Army) in Korea before returning to Mexico City College.

While in Mexico, he met Marilyn “Mimi” Berg of Chicago. He contracted polio, but learned to walk again before marrying her in the Mexico City hospital chapel on November 18, 1954.

After living briefly in New Haven, they moved to New York while he studied anthropology at Columbia University. They then returned to New Haven, where he worked for the Human Relations Area Files at Yale. Following a move to North Haven, he worked for the State of Connecticut Department of Human Resources. After retirement, he moved to Wallingford, CT.

In recent years, he felt the effects of post-polio syndrome, but his mind remained active. He volunteered at the North Haven Historical Society, read poetry, researched genealogy, and excelled at puttering. He wore the bottoms of his trousers rolled, though he could no longer hear the mermaids singing, nor walk along the beach.

George is survived by his wife Mimi and their children, Amy Bedell and her husband David McIntyre, of Haydenville, Mass., John Bedell and his wife Judy Wang Bedell, of Salem, Mass., David Bedell, of Wallingford, and Susan Bedell and her husband Erich Ludes, of Ames, Iowa; his grandchildren, Rodney and Alfred Bedell and Louisa and Anton Ludes-Bedell; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Ruth Buchan, Lister Bedell, Lois Beaman, and Harriett Belik, their spouses, and David's partner, Elise Klein.

George will be remembered for his thoughtfulness and sense of humor. He loved language, books, tinkering, crossword puzzles, and mathematical curiosities. No pun was too bad, and an inability to carry a tune never kept him from singing.

George’s family would like to thank the staff of Regency House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care they provided during his last months.

There will be no funeral services.