Nicholas J Bellegie

Dr. Nicholas Joseph Bellegie, 84, died Thursday, September 29, 2005. Memorial services will be at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 7, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 305 N. 30th St. with Rev. Frank Mangum officiating. Nick Bellegie was born on October 17, 1920 in Houston, the son of Nicholas and Winifred Bellegie. In 1937, he graduated as valedictorian of San Jacinto High School. He attended Rice University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with honors in 1941. While at Rice, he met Arlene Granfors and they were married on December 25, 1942. Nick attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, graduating first in his class in 1944. He joined the Navy and was an intern at the U. S. Naval Hospital in Charleston, S.C. from 1944 to 1945. He then served as medical officer on the USS Hydrographer from 1945 to 1946. Following his discharge, he completed a Fellowship in Anatomy at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1947. He then completed a residency in General Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in 1952. Dr. Bellegie returned to Texas to establish his surgical practice in Waco with Dr. Roy Baskin, a partnership that evolved into the current Waco Surgical Group. Nick was recalled to the Navy during the Korean War and served as Task Force Surgeon on the USS Yorktown from 1953 to1954. He returned to Waco and continued in private practice until he retired in 1989. Nick was active in his profession, serving on the Hillcrest and Providence Hospital Boards and as President of the McLennan County Medical Society. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Diplomate of the American Board of Surgeons. He was an active member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and served on the boards of St. Alban’s Memorial School and Vanguard College Preparatory School. Nick loved learning, was an avid reader, and enjoyed sitting in on classes and serving as a guest lecturer at Baylor University. Dr. Bellegie’s wife Arlene predeceased him in March, 2005. He is survived by daughters, Paula B. Campbell and Laura B. Sharp, their husbands Jerry P. Campbell and Lance D. Sharp; and grandchildren, Matt Campbell, Claire Campbell, Lancer Sharp, and Mesia Sharp. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the care Nick received at Wesley Woods and from his special caregiver, Delia Barnes. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, St. Alban’s Memorial School, Rice University or a charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey