Obituary of Robert Bruce

Robert Winzer Bruce died peacefully at Morris View Healthcare Center on October 5th. He was 97. Born in Augusta, Kansas in 1916, he left home at age 18 on a $35 Harley Davidson motorcycle. He lived in many different locales during his life including Texas, Florida, Colorado, Washington, DC, New York City, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, and for ten years between 1992 and 2002, on a forty five foot wooden sailboat which he restored and christened the”Quequeg”, after the south sea islander in “Moby Dick”. He published a book about the experience titled, “Quequeg, Maine to Mexico and Bahamas”. This was his favorite period in life. He was married three times, but was divorced at the time of his death. He worked at a number of professions including shrimp fishing, farming , heavy machinery operating, Methodist ministering, art, college art teaching, newspaper publishing, and Laundromat owning. The newspaper he founded, “The Rangeley Highlander”, of Rangeley, Maine is still operating. He studied painting under Carl Zerbe and Rafael Soyer. His most proud art accomplishment is a large fresco called “The Good Shepherd” which is on the wall of the Good Shepherd Church in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. He also painted a fresco mural depicting the history of Rangeley, Maine on the wall of the post office there. All his life he was involved in causes, including the sit-ins in Washington, DC in the early 50s to desegregate restaurants. He sent a substantial portion of his social security income to Native American charities until he entered a skilled nursing facility in September, 2012. He is predeceased by his first wife, Doris Scott, and his second wife Barbara Bird, mother of his children. He is survived by his four children, Katherine Clyne of Rockaway, NJ, John Rob Bruce, of Elk, California, Breton Bruce of Denver, Colorado, and Branwen Kelly of Clonmel, Tipperary, Ireland. He has six grandchildren, three of Rockaway, NJ and three of Tipperary, Ireland. His remains will be buried in the cemetery in Augusta, Kansas next to his parents and grandparents, A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Denville, NJ on Sunday October 20th at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Morris View Healthcare Center, 540 West Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07950, would be highly appreciated. Arrangements by Norman Dean Home For Services.