Bruce grew up in a socially conscious family and was drawn to politics at an
early age. He was the editor of an underground newspaper at Upper Arlington
high school, outside of Columbus, Ohio. He attended Ohio University in Athens,
Ohio , from 1971 to 1975 and just barely earned a bachelor's degree in general
studies. While attending OU he was a campus activist and organizer protesting
the war in Vietnam, advocating for student rights, and founding the Student
Workers Union that tried to organize the university’s student employees. He was
elected president of the undergraduate student Governing board in 1974.
In 1977, Bruce founded the Athens “A” News (the “A” is for alternative) that over
time, evolved into The Athens News. He served as publisher for 38 years before
retiring and selling the newspaper in 2014. He was active in many community
events including the Athens Clean & Safe Halloween committee and helping
promote the Athens Brick Criterion as assistant race director for six years and
then race director for another six years.
Bruce and and his wife Susan moved to Bahama Village in Key West, Florida in 2013 where are they made
countless dear friends and joined the Key West Bike Club... If it's 8:01 AM we're
riding! In 2015, he organized community members to form the Key West Rip-off
rapid response team that fought a 5-year campaign against rip off cosmetic
shops on Duval St. Their sidewalk protest finally closed the last shop in the
spring of 2000.
Bruce was most proud of his wife Susan, their sons JB, Will and Orhan, the newspaper he founded and
attending all 30 Major League Baseball parks with his sons.
Bruce was blessed with an unusually large network of longtime friends who he
loved dearly and whom he was generous with.
In recent years he fancied himself a minor philanthropist and with Susan
delighted in giving significant funds to a wide range of charitable organizations.
He loved life experiences, traveling, adventure and visited more than 70
countries and continents.