Belle Marino was dynamic, fun, stylish, and endlessly smart — a woman of many sides, many stories, and certainly many shoes. Whether hiking boots or high heels, Belle wore them all with ease and flair.

She delighted in food and flavor: Moroccan carrots, ginger, arugula, polenta — and sometimes, yes, a good cut of beef. She savored chocolate nibs and risotto, crafted cappuccinos and mochas with finesse, and always had a stash of sweet treats from Trader Joe’s at the ready. With Belle, every meal became a celebration — plates set beautifully, champagne poured generously, high heels clicking across the floor, laughter bubbling over.

Belle had a zest for life that could light up a room. She was a master of presentation, of art and beauty, teaching us about sfumata, color complements, and the way art could transform how we see. She was a loyal volunteer for Art in Action and Bay Area Action’s EEAT program, and one of the featured artists collaborating with Chef Laura Stec on “Edible Art and Appetizers” a 1999 Decadent Dinner that Belle hosted in her Menlo Park home.

Belle’s reinvention from the dot-com world to a respected, accredited teacher was a testament to her courage and strength — a shining example of resilience and growth. And she was a brilliant storyteller, the great impersonator, capturing voices and quirks with uncanny precision — whether reimagining “Gana John,” “Crazy Deborah,” the woman who hit her car twice in the same lot, or the countless kids from school.

Yet Belle’s greatest role was being a mother. Her children were her crowning glory, her “plus grand accomplishment” — the brightest stars in her constellation.

Because of Belle, the world is richer: more colorful, more stylish, more artistic, more joyful. She was a muse for the senses. Passing in 2007, she may not have stayed long, but she sprinkled her glittering self across her children, her home, her high-value yellow room, her friends — and in doing so, left behind a world that is more beautiful, more radiant, and forever unforgettable.

– Laura Stec, 2025

Donations to BAA, 1990–2000*

• 1998 — $51–75 level (supporting EEAT and Beka Jaqua)
• 1999 — $51–99 level

* Records may be incomplete. The BAA Archives are still being collated and researched.

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