Victoria Larrea Bellinger

I finally have the distance to post about the passing of my “mamacita” Victoria Larrea Bellinger (née Victoria Pomerance), on May 7, at 91 years old. Victoria lived a life shaped by great imagination, love, acceptance, humor, and sometimes great pain. Channeling her imagination through her hands into works of art is how she found meaning throughout her life, and she continued to do so until just a few months before her demise. Besides the friends and family and admirers who cared for her so much, she leaves behind a large body of drawings and sculptures primarily of faces heads and bodies; some are beautiful, some grotesque, and many both. All are suffused with her traits and testament to them. She was quite the fighter. Over the past three years she endured many severe health challenges, but always managed to surprise naysaying doctors by rallying, convalescing, and ending up back home. That seemed to be the case as well with this last and most severe illness, but just as she embarked on the familiar road to recovery, she was abruptly snatched away. There always has to be a last rodeo, and this was that one. And she even left a goodbye note. So while I deeply mourn her loss and all the stories still untold, smiles left unsmiled, and laughs left unlaughed, I know she lived a long and fulfilling life and is now at peace, and I cherish the time we had together for nearly 3 of her final years. Dear Victoria, I trust that when you left us, it was in the glow of knowing how much you were loved and admired, by me and so many others. Rest in peace.