Kenneth L. Bellani, 90, of Hackensack (formerly of Hoboken and North Bergen) passed away on September 2, 2026 after a brief illness. Beloved husband of 68 years to Mary Jane (née Musella). Devoted father of Kenneth (Lisa) Bellani, Karen (Michael) Dunn, Peter (Antonia) Bellani, and David Bellani. Cherished grandfather of Steven Bellani, Sean, Patrick and Matthew Dunn, Jonathan, Joseph, Jenna, and Alessandra Bellani, and great-grandfather of Colton, Hudson, Addison, and Beckett. Predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Edwin Bellani.
Kenneth was born in Hoboken, New Jersey to Cecilia (née Ferrari) and Peter Bellani. He graduated from A.J. Demarest High School in Hoboken, where he was a celebrated baseball and basketball standout. His love of sports continued after his high school days playing both fast and slow pitch softball for many years in Hoboken and Hudson County. He was a proud member of IAABO Board 33 refereeing high school varsity basketball throughout Hudson County for many years. He was also a successful basketball coach for Our Lady of Fatima CYO and in various North Bergen Recreation basketball leagues. After his playing and coaching days, Kenneth faithfully served as statistician for 240 consecutive games over 10 years for the boys varsity basketball team at Technology High School in Newark, where his youngest son David served as Head Coach.
Kenneth spent many afternoons and evenings with his wife Mary Jane attending the basketball, baseball, football, soccer, volleyball and softball games of their grandchildren and the high school theater productions of his grandson Matthew Dunn.
Kenneth was an avid golfer and bowler and, for the past twenty years, was a starter and ranger at Bergen County’s Rockleigh Golf Course where he made many friends among his fellow employees and the golfers that played there.
He spent most of his working career as a Teamster Union member driving for Smith Transport in Hoboken, eventually joining the management team there as Dispatcher.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday, September 4, 2026, 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Fatima R.C. Church, 8101 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Bergen. Entombment George Washington Memorial Park, Century & Paramus Roads, Paramus.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Kenneth’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org