Obituary of Arthur Belefant

Arthur Belefant, P.E., a mechanical/electrical engineer, designed large-scale projects all over the world, including Israel, Japan, and Greece. Often living overseas for work, he took great pleasure in local cultures and cuisines.

He was born in the Bronx, NY in 1927. He served in the Army after WWII. He married Rita in Greece. On settling in Florida, he ran his own engineering firm and won contracts with Disney, NASA, and other government and private entities. Active in the community, he helped organize local chapters of technical and engineering societies including CCTS and IEEE.

He was the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. He was first published in the Asahi Evening News of Tokyo, Japan where he wrote a regular column, “The Gourmet’s Guide,” as a restaurant reviewer and food commentator for American expatriates in Japan. 

He continued “The Gourmet’s Guide” column when he moved back to the U.S. in the Mensa publication SCAM. For over ten years he covered such subjects as food, Frankenstein, toilets, language, and politics, reflecting his diverse interests and eclectic personality.

He is survived by his devoted wife of more than six decades, three dedicated children, and four wonderful grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to The Arbor Day Foundation - https://www.arborday.org/