by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025

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JOE BELLO BIODownload

Jose Evelio (GARCIA) BELLO was born on March 7, 1917, in Key West, Florida, to Maria Carmen Amparo Rodriquez (1885-1959 b. Cuba) and Jose Garcia Bello (1871-1950 b. Cuba) 

Jose Garcia Bello
Maria Carmen Amparo RODRIGUEZ

Joe’s birth certificate was amended on Sept 3, 1976 to read José Evelio Bello. On March 17, 1977, that document was finalized as Jose Garcia Bello, Jr.

**See more explanation of the name change from Evelio Garcia to Joe Bello later in this post.**

SIBLINGS

In 1920, Joe lived with his parents at 615 Simonton St in Key West, Florida. His father worked as a cigar maker. 

In June 1929, Joe sailed on the S.S. Governor Cobb from Havana to Key West with his mother, Carmen and brother, Elio.

SS Gov Cobb
SS Gov Cobb

PHOTO SOURCE: Florida Memory.com

In 1930, Joe lived with his parents at 511 United St in Key West. His father and his brother, Candido, worked in a cigar factory.

In 1935, Joe lived in Key West.

1st MARRIAGE

Jose Evelio (GARCIA) BELLO married Clara Belle LARIZ in Monroe, Florida, on November 19, 1936, when he was 19 years old. They divorced in 1953 in Monroe, Florida.

Clara Belle holding niece, Clara. Clara’s brother, Andrew Lariz holding Clara’s daughter, Jane. Joe Garcia Bello
Clara Belle LARIZ
Blanca Rosa GARCIA Diaz, Evelio Garcia, Clara Belle LARIZ Garcia (holding Delores GARCIA), Josepha DIAZ, Jane GARCIA, and Josephine GARCIA
Andrew “Bubby” Lariz, Manuel Lariz, Clara Belle Lariz, and Joe Bello Garcia
Clara and Joe (not sure of children’s names)
Joe and possibly Jane

CHILDREN

  • Jane Ann was born on April 26, 1938, in Key West,
  • Josephine was born on July 20, 1940, in Key West
  • Delores Matilda was born on November 28, 1942, in Key West
  • Rosa Maria (Rosemary) ‘Meme’ was born on December 11, 1947, in Key West

Joe registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 in Key West. He lived at 1227 Royal St in Key West. His birthdate is listed as September 17, 1915, which makes him more than two years older than he actually was (23). His draft card describes him as 5’8″ and 145 lbs with a ruddy complexion, black hair, hazel eyes, and a scar on his chin. His employer is listed as the WPA in Key West.

On his daughter Jane’s birth certificate in 1938, Joe is listed as an ironworker for the Oversea Toll and Bridge.

Granddaughter, Jane GARCIA Rowland recalls. “He went to an English and Spanish school. Joe’s father, Jose, studied to be a Catholic priest but changed his mind.”

Jane continues, “My dad has washed dishes in a restaurant. He was trained by a famous chef to help him cook meals in Key West. He has worked in Tampa rolling cigars and as a pipefitter. He drove a garbage truck, dump trucks for the county. He was a cabinet maker, a carpenter and a contractor and subcontractor. He built houses for millionaires, movie and tv stars, and he built the bar at Sloppy Joe’s in Key West. He built Kenno Plaza; he was the contractor. He built hotels and condos in Key West and all up the Florida Keys. He was an Overseas Highway bridge builder during the WPA. At the age of 83, he painted my bathroom walls, installed a cabinet, and redid my ceiling. He completely remodeled my sister. Josephine’s kitchen, built a laundry room, redid the dining room and computer room.”

Joe was granted an honorable discharge from the Navy November 4, 1945. He requested additional training as a plumber at Pipefitter School.

Joe third from left
Joe second from right front row
Joe in center
Joe second from left
Joe on the left
Joe on the left
Joe Bello on the right

In 1945, his address was listed as 913 Watson St. Key West.

2nd MARRIAGE

Joe married Lydia LLANEZ Semler November 19, 1954.

Lydia and Joe
Joe and Lydia
Lydia and Joe
Joe and Lydia
Lydia

BELLO/GARCIA Name Confusion Explained

Joe is listed with the U.S. Social Security system as Jose Garcia Bello. His gravestone reads Jose G. Bello. He went by the name Joe Bello for most of his adult life. His grandchildren called him Papa Garcia.

This is from his oldest daughter, Jane GARCIA Rowland: “There were several confusing things that concerned my dad’s name. He was known for most of his life as Evelio Garcia. It was the name he used to wed my mother, and the first three children were Garcias on their birth certificates. The Spanish custom of using the mothers maiden name caused some confusion, but my dad was never named Rodriguez, which was his mother’s maiden name. His dad used the Garcia De Bello title, Bello being his mothers maiden name. 

My grandfather signed his name Garcia sometimes. Other times he used Bello and Garcia De Bello. My dad was drafted into the Army during WWII and questions arose about what name was correct.He began to use the Bello name, and my younger sister Rose Mary was named Bello.Then after he wed his second wife and applied for a passport there were all kinds of problems. He sent for his original birth certificate. The name his father gave him was Joseph Evelio Garcia Bello. My father and his second wife decided to change his name legally to Joseph Garcia Bello Jr. 

This was legal and his name was Bello from then on. Our names were still Garcia. Elio, his younger brother, who was drafted at the same time, also changed his name to Bello.

I visited my uncle, my dad’s oldest brother, Candido ‘Beby’ Garcia, in the early 1980s. He was very upset about the name change and he did not change his name. He said, “They can change the name on the paper, but they are still Garcias.” My dad’s two sisters also retained the maiden name of Garcia.”

MEMORIES

His granddaughter, Karen, remembers when her papa remodeled her mother’s house (Josephine). He tried to get Karen to read the Miami Herald (Spanish edition) to him and she had to remind him that she did not know Spanish. He also tried to get her to help him do some work in the kitchen. She worked with him a little bit but got bored and wandered off. He found her, thumped her forehead, and said, “You hard headed like your Mama.” 

Joe was known for dropping a cigar stub (unlit of course) into walls he was building all around the Keys. Leaving a bit of him behind. Karen always associates the cigar smell with her Papa Garcia.

Granddaughter Kathy ROWLAND recalls, “I remember when our family first came back stateside and met all of the family. I never knew I had such a big family since I had never met anyone. We all went to Rock City and I bought Grandpa the giant cigar souvenir. I think I was 7 years old then.

Granddaughter, Lynda BURCH Stoller remembers when Papa Garcia came to Atlanta to visit her. “Mother was there as well. We took him to an Atlanta Braves game. He was so overwhelmed with the stadium. He held on to my mother and took baby steps to walk around to take in all the sights. It was so rewarding to see how much he appreciated going to a major league game.”

Lynda also recalls, “We were visiting Papa and Grandma Lydia when Robert Kennedy was assassinated. I remember we were in their house and he came running through shouting, “They shot Kennedy.” It was very scary to see him so upset.

Joe and daughter, Delores
Karen Hamilton, Mona Hamilton, Kathy Rowland, Cathy Burch with their grandfather
Joe and daughter, Josephine
Joe and Lydia with Josephine, Rosemary, and Delores
Josephine, Lydia, Joe
Delores, Joe, Jane, Josephine
Josephine, Diane, Dee, Clara, Joe Bello in Key West
Carmen Rodriguez Garcia, Jane Rowland, Kay Rowland, Joe Bello
Joe Bello
Josephine and her father, Joe Bello
Kay Rowland, Joe Bello, Jane Garcia Rowland
Clara, Jane, Joe, Rosmary in basket, Diane, Josephine
White St. Joe Bello holding Rosemary, Josephine, Jane, Clara, Delores

LOSSES

  • His father Jose passed away on June 2, 1950, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 78.
  • His mother Maria Carmen Amparo passed away on November 10, 1959, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 73.
  • His sister Blanca Rosa died on April 12, 1982, in Key West, Florida.
  • His brother Candido ‘Beby’ died on February 17, 1993, in Key West, Florida.
  • His sister Carmen died on February 23, 1995, in Miami, Florida.
  • His wife Lydia passed away on November 21, 1999, at the age of 85.
  • His brother Elio Garcia died on March 25, 2001, in Brandon, Florida.
  • His daughter Rosa Maria (Rosemary) ‘Meme’ passed away on March 4, 2004, in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 56.
Joe Bello with his grandchildren
Joe Bello with some of his descendants, his daughter Josephine and her children and grandchildren. 1992.
Top row: Joseph Rager, Steve McMahon, Jesse Rager
Middle row: Ernie Hamilton, III; Ernie Hamilton, Jr.; Josephine GARCIA Simmons; Mona HAMILTON McMahon; Kathleen McMahon; Teresa McMahon; Joshua Rager; Karen HAMILTON
Bottom row: Misty HAMILTON; Joe Bello (Papa Garcia)

Jose Evelio (GARCIA) BELLO died on May 8, 2009, in Lakeland, Florida, when he was 92 years old. Joe was laid to rest next to his wife at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lakeland, Florida.

Key West Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park

SOURCES

Personal recollections from family; Photo collection of Jane GARCIA Rowland and Josephine GARCIA Simmons; 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Florida Passenger Lists, 1898-1964; Florida State Census, 1867-1945; Florida, Naturalization Records, 1847-1995; U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; Web: Florida, Find A Grave Index, 1800-2012

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