Dr. Bruce G Belvin DDS, FAGD, 77, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Center in Providence after a 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and was raised in East Meadow, Long Island. Bruce was the son of the late J. Berwin and Hortense Belvin. He graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1967 and then went on to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1970 and was stationed in Newport. During his Naval career, in 1968 he married his dental school sweetheart, Elaine A. Johnson. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bruce and Elaine decided to stay in Rhode Island, where he started his dental practice in Warwick in 1971. The young couple settled in the Buttonwoods area of Warwick, where they purchased their first home. He practiced dentistry in Warwick for 30 years before retiring in 1999. At his passing he and Elaine were married for 51 years and still reside in their Warwick home where they raised their family.
Bruce found joy always being active in his community. He volunteered to coach Warwick soccer for his two sons. He was a Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts leader. An active member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council, he was a Confirmation teacher adn Youth Group leader. He was a member of the Warwick Rotary, American Dental Association as well as the Kent County Dental Association.
During his battle with Parkinson’s, he and Elaine were members of the Rhode Island chapter of American Parkinson Disease Association (RIAPDA). Bruce was both a board member and support group leader. Because of their countless hours spent volunteering, organizing events, raising money and offering guidance to numerous other members they were the first recipients of the RIAPDA “Belvin Award” for volunteerism. The RIAPDA and its support group is and will always be his second family with many memories cherished from his time with them.
Throughout his life, Bruce was always looking for a good laugh and to make others laugh. He never shied away from a good time. Halloween in his dental practice was always scary, for the only reason being you didn’t know one year from the next which Bruce you were getting: Bruce the ballerina this year and Pimp Daddy Bruce the next. Anything to make his patients laugh. Of all the accolades he received over his lifetime, the only one cared about was being the best husband, father and grandfather he could be. He cherished his grandchildren calling him Bamps or Gramps. He most enjoyed the time he spent with his family on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Summers on the lake, with friends and family was all that it took to bring a smile to his face. He also never missed a chance to watch his Red Sox and Patriots on TV.
He was the beloved husband of Elaine A. Belvin; loving father of Scott C. Belvin and his wife, Katerina, of North Attleboro, Mass. and Todd J. Belvin and his wife, Cheryl, of Avon, Mass.; cherished grandfather of Tyler Belvin, Zachary Belvin, Mackenzie Belvin, Connor Belvin, Jack Belvin and Thomas Belvin; and brother of Kent A. Belvin.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Bruce’s Life Celebration on Monday, December 23 from 4-7 p.m., with a service and military honors at 7 p.m. in Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Chapel, 2435 Warwick Ave., Warwick.
In lieu of flowers, donations to RI APDA, PO Box 41659, Providence, RI 02940 or Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 would be appreciated. For information and condolences visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com.
