Nancy Nelson Bello is a 1969 graduate of Jackson College, where she majored in Economics. During her undergraduate years, she spent her summers working in computer programming for IBM. After graduation, she married her husband, John Bello, A68. Shortly thereafter, John was deployed to Vietnam, and Nancy moved to the Bay Area, where she worked for three years in computer programming at Pacific Bell.
In 1972, Nancy joined the Cancer Center at Mary Hitchcock Medical Center, where she developed a tri-state computerized cancer registry. She later earned her MBA from the Tuck School of Business in 1975. She worked in Strategic Planning at AMF Corporation, including with Harley-Davidson, and later consulted before raising her three children.
Nancy remained active in education and governance, serving as PTA President and as a Trustee of The Hotchkiss School and Cardigan Mountain School. She also contributed to the development of SoBe Beverages and now oversees JoNa Ventures, the family investment firm.
A dedicated Tufts volunteer since 1969, Nancy has been active in reunions and has interviewed numerous prospective students. She is a founding member of the President’s Council and served on the International Board of Advisors.
Nancy and her husband, John, are longtime supporters of Tufts, with a focus on athletics, campus improvements, and the student experience. Their contributions include the creation of Bello Field, home to 12 national championship teams; fundraising support for the Tufts Squash Center, including the donation of a court carrying Nancy’s maiden name; and the funding, design, and execution of the Nelson Gateway Garden, which transformed the entrance to the playing fields.
Nancy and her husband, John, helped establish the Lee Nordan DU and Medical School Scholarship in memory of John’s classmate, dear friend, and business partner. Nancy and John are also longtime members of the Charles Tufts Society.
After establishing a home in Arizona in 2005, Nancy noticed the annual spring break arrival of golf teams from Harvard, Amherst, and Michigan at their home club. She wondered, "Why not Tufts?" In 2012, the Tufts golf team began its annual spring training trip to Desert Mountain. Since then, the program has flourished, and Tufts has become a consistent contender for the NESCAC Championship, winning the title in 2024. Fifteen years of spring break in Arizona and still going strong!
In recent years, Tufts applications and acceptances have increased in Rye, New York. Coincidentally, the current high school principal is also a Tufts graduate. This year, Rye High School had six students accepted to Tufts. To celebrate, Nancy and John hosted a dinner for incoming Tufts students, their parents, and current Tufts students from the area.
It was a wonderful gathering of students and families and great news for Tufts!
Nancy Bello, J69, A13P