Hazel and Robert Belfit
Robert Belfit (1891-1980) and Hazel Prentiss Belfit (1896-1981) lived in Pittsfield, MA and later in Watertown, CT. Marrying in 1920, they had three children. Their youngest child, Bob (1927-2018) was my grandfather. Bob married Margaret Smith Belfit (1924-2006) in 1944. Margo and Bob had one child, Barcie Barrie Belfit born in 1954. She married Robert Freinberg, also Bob, in 1978. They have two children, Jonathan and Ashley. Barcie passed away in 2021 from secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Rob and Hazel first met the Second Family Shakers at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village in 1921. 
They maintained these treasured friendships with many Shakers at several villages up until their deaths in the 1980s.
Rob Belfit was an Organic Chemist at Scovill Manufacturing in Metals Research for forty- one years. Developing and patenting his Y lacquers, these finishes coated brass and copper to prevent rusting. First on cosmetic containers such as foundation and lipstick compacts then later during World War II, to seal bullets and ease/repel their trajectory through the chamber for the United States and its allies. Alongside Hazel, as chairman of the Watertown Library Association for forty seven years, he oversaw conservation of the books housed there, the Curtiss Collection. This collection included twelve hundred volumes of first edition rare books with the likes of almanacs, works by Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others. The Belfits’ visits and friendships with Shakers provided solace during troubled wartimes which Rob described in retained letters. His knowledge aided the Shakers in textile and wood surface advice, particularly with finishes, shellacs, and glues that created a relationship of reciprocity. In particular, he secured a specific shellac for Brother William Perkins from Zinsser & Co. that was at the time, unavailable to the public, and later, the same contact for Sister Frances Hall
Hazel was an artist. On her 80th birthday, she was toasted by Sexta Feira, her women's group where she had been in attendance for fifty years.
It was a place where, every month, a member would present a topic and host the evening regarding a wide scope of progressive academic and scholarly areas. Early on, before women could vote, a catalyst for their gathering. Hazel’s comrades describe her as a treasure, and a woman of many talents. Largely self-taught, what is known about Hazel is through what remains. That is, quiet, slow revealing, colorful and expansive crewel designs. A scrapbook of hand-printed Christmas/New Year cards in an array of ambitious printmaking techniques married with unique spiritual hymns that speak of family, faith and Shaker traditions that span their lifetime. These cards are as beautiful as they are individual each calendar year.
A hand sewn and embroidered indigo silk kimono and pants set with fine embroidery with impeccable detail and tailoring. Perhaps made for my mother, or, later as a gift. Numerous correspondence detailing sending birthday sweaters and knitting patterns to replicate for the fancy goods shop to their friends (Sisters) in Sabbathday Lake.