In Memory of Chuck Bellissimo

Over the last couple of years of his life, Chuck Bellissimo fought hard to beat an awful cancer diagnosis. His family and friends all prayed, hoped for the best and looked for option after option, as he battled through about 10 different types of aggressive treatments. Heartbreakingly, on January 2, 2025, Chuck lost his battle with mantle cell lymphoma. He leaves behind his wife, Ann, his two daughters and sons-in-law, 6 grandchildren, and many friends and family.

Ann and Chuck are high school sweethearts who met when they lived in Buffalo, N.Y. Through their 48 years of marriage, Chuck took care of and was a constant support for his family. The son of Steven and Ione Bellissimo, he was always the family "helper." Have a problem? Go to Chuck for advice. Unsure how to build something? Chuck can fix it and even improve it. There wasn't a problem he didn't try to solve. He lived each day with determination, compassion and heart, always driven by a desire to support his loved ones. Even through his career choices, Chuck helped others, first as a police officer, and later, with his home security company.

Even in the throes of illness, Chuck still wanted to solve his family’s problems. This past October, two back-to-back hurricanes caused significant damage to Chuck and Ann’s home, all while his cancer was doing the utmost to knock him down. Yet, he still tried to fix things and repair what he could before he would collapse in the bed, exhausted. He hated the idea of leaving his family, especially with the hurricane mess and medical struggles, all resulting in significant bills.

Anyone who has dealt with a loved one’s serious illness and passing understands how quickly those bills pile up. We’ve set up this fund to honor Chuck’s memory by giving support to Ann. We can’t take away the heartbreak of losing such a wonderful husband. What we can do is ease the financial burden of these bills and eliminate that financial stress as Ann and her family grieve. All donations will go to Ann, Chuck’s wife of more than 48 years. If donations exceed what’s needed, we will donate the rest to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

Chuck never made a show of supporting, protecting or helping others. It’s just who he was through and through – sincere, solid, and the ultimate family man. He and Ann raised their daughters to be the same way. As anyone who’s known Desiree or Tiffany can attest, those are family traits that were certainly passed on. This is our chance to honor Chuck and give back to a family who gives so much to all who know them.

Thank you to everyone who has asked about helping the Bellissimo-Rotenberg-Taylor family. We hope that one day another family doesn’t have to lose their beloved family member to cancer or waste crucial time waiting for insurance approval of a doctor-recommended treatment. Thank you for your prayers, love and support.

With love,

Friends of the Bellissimo Family