Stephen Joseph Belli

Ft. Drum, - 1LT Stephen Joseph Belli US Army, 32, of Ft Drum, NY, formerly of 8 Wabasso Terrace, Middletown, RI, died Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD.He was the husband of Melissa Armella Belli. Born in Newport, RI on December 30, 1970, he was the son of Joseph A. and Mary Cecilia Moitozo Belli of Middletown, RI.Steve was a 1988 graduate of Middletown High School, a 1992 graduate of the University of Rhode Island where he received a baccalauretes degree in History and a 1999 graduate of Webster Univerisity where he received a masters degree in computer resource information management. In 1989 Steve joined the Rhode Island National Guard, 173rd Inf. Det. LRS. Steve entered active service in 1993 serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft Benning, GA and the Defense Intelligence Agency D.I.A. achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. Steve was later commissioned through Officer Candidate School at Ft Benning, GA and subsequently attended helicopter flight school at Ft Rucker, AL. Steve served as a OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aerial Scout Platoon Leader for the 10th Mountain Division LI at Ft Drum, NY. Besides his wife and parents he is survived by his two year old daughter Madison Rose Belli of Ft Drum, NY, and his brother Sgt. Jeffrey M. Belli of Ft Campbell, KY. His funeral will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2003, at 8:00 AM at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian burial at 9:00 AM at St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Maddie Rose Education Fund, P.O. Box 411, Ft Drum, NY 13603.