Reuben Hays Bell passed away on March 1, 2026 at the age of 83.  “Hays” is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Karen (Canning) Bell;  son Jeffrey (Julia) Bell; daughter Amy (Rick) Johnson; and grandchildren, Daniel, Sean, and Maeve Bell and Ethan and Owen Johnson.  

Hays grew up in Lamartine, PA, a village in the northwestern part of the state.  He graduated from Keystone High School in Knox, PA where he was an outstanding student and varsity basketball player.  The 1960 Boys Basketball Team won the District Championship and was inducted into the Keystone Hall of Fame in 2025.  

Hays attended Grove City College, earning a BS in Chemistry and the heart of the lovely Karen Canning whom he married in 1965.  He later went on to earn a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University and conducted postdoctoral research in Toxicology and Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati.  

Hays started his career at Owens Corning Fiberglass in Granville, OH.  In 1978, he became the Director of Technical Support for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, under the Carter administration.  In 1982, Hays, Karen and the kids, moved to Rochester, NY, where they settled permanently.  Hays worked for Eastman Kodak for the next twenty plus years, retiring in 2005 as a Vice President.  Over the course of his career as a scientist, he is credited as the author or co-author of numerous publications and was awarded several patents.

Hays loved to garden.  He was interested in the environment and worked with the Central and Western New York chapter of the Nature Conservancy, serving on the Conservancy’s International Leadership Council.  He enjoyed sports and liked sporting events that involved his grandchildren, children, and beloved Ohio State Buckeyes best.  He was blessed with dear friends with whom he enjoyed golf, travel, a good fish fry and a nice glass of wine. Most important, he always focused on and supported others.  He was a great father, friend, and mentor.

He is proceeded in death by his parents Duane and Alma Bell and his older brother Chuck.  

The family would like to thank the staff of the Jewish Home of Rochester who took such great care of Hays in his final year.

Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation on Friday, June 26th from 4:00-8:00pm at the funeral home where a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 27th at 10:00am.