Obituary of Domenique Bellavia
Domenique Bellavia left this world suddenly on March 14, 2021, at the age of 44. She was born on September 21, 1976, in Tucson, Arizona, the only child of Al Bellavia and Jane Latimer Nidey.
Domenique received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts from the University of Arizona where she graduated with honors and received the Creative Achievement Award from the College of Fine Arts in 2002. She was a talented and passionate documentarian who understood the art of listening well to get to the heart of a story. She honed her skills as an intern at local PBS station KUAT in Tucson and after graduating, she was hired as a producer at KLRU in Austin. At KLRU she received a Lone Star Emmy award and two award nominations for her exceptional work on an innovative series she co-created called Docubloggers. She later worked as a freelance producer for several independent projects in and around Central Texas and taught filmmaking to underserved elementary and middle school students through the Austin Film Society.
After many years of living and working in Austin, Domenique moved to Oklahoma to be closer to her mom and returned to Tucson after her mother’s passing. In her last year, Domenique discovered the rewarding benefits of caregiving when she was hired by Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. She enjoyed her work and her empathetic and caring nature was recognized and appreciated by many of her clients.
Domenique struggled with mental health issues for many years, but her struggles did not define her. She possessed a sweet, curious and adventurous spirit. She loved to spend time in nature, journal, draw, hike, cook, travel and share stories. She also loved her family and will be missed dearly by all who knew her.
Domenique is preceded in death by her mother, Jane Nidey. She is survived by her father, Al Bellavia, and many aunts, uncles and cousins from both sides of her large, extended and loving family. A remembrance and celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider making a donation in Domenique’s memory to the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Southern Arizona and/or Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.
National Alliance of Mental Illness of Southern Arizona (NAMISA)
6122 E 22nd St
Tucson, AZ 85711
520 622 5582
https://www.namisa.org/donate/
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
1231 N Norris Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719
520 748 2300
