Vincenzo Bellini Lodge #2519

Italian Love for Bodega Bay

Those of you that don’t know Bodega Bay, it is one of those small communities, dependent on fishing and tourism, that is about a 1.5 hour drive north of San Francisco, via Hwy 101. I first visited there to fish in September of 1994, and had no idea that an event was taking place in Italy, that would deeply affect and intertwine the close-knit town and the Italian people, as well as myself.

I was by chance, camping on the north end of Bodega Bay in September 2024, at Bodega Dunes State Park. Having visited Bodega Bay many times in 30 years, Bodega Dunes was one of my favorite parks, and is now even more special. This trip, I had the pleasure to meet a nice Italian couple from the Sacramento area. When I shared that I had some Italian heritage and an OSDIA Local Lodge President, they invited me to their travel trailer, for wine. During our visit, they asked if I knew about the “Bell Tower” in the park, but I had no idea what that was. They explained a little bit of the story, and I was stunned, especially having visited the area, so much. The next day, I walked a short trail leading to a memorial tower and monuments directly from our camp sites, and I am now compelled to share what I learned.

In September of 1994, a family living in Bodega Bay visited Italy, when they were robbed and their son was shot and killed. As you can see on the plaques, Nicholas Green was a vibrant 7 year-old, when his life was taken. Before leaving Italy, Nicholas’ family donated his organs to help 7 Italian children. The Italians were so moved, that they had a bell made in a 1,000 year old foundry, blessed by Pope John Paul II, and sent over to Bodega Bay.

In a large clearing, the Bell Tower is 18 feet tall. At top center, is the memorial bell, from Italy. The tower itself was made in San Francisco, and the smaller bells donated from area families. Surrounding the memorial area, are benches for resting and reflecting on the event, and events in our own lives, especially moving for me, having lost my daughter a couple of years, ago.