It was sadness that I recently learned of Bruce’s death here in Virginia. I was one of those British antique gun and sword friends going back now 25 years. We would meet once a year in Baltimore for the huge international arms show and had a great time. But for years we would talk on the phone nearly everyday discussing our research and purchases. The Victorian period was discussed in great detail. Our conversations became fewer in recent years but his knowledge, kindness were huge and I truly miss. I can still hear his voice now. Goodbye my friend from your buddy in Virginia. Your sorely missed.

I have many fond memories I would love to share but I will share my favorite.
Bruce would come to visit me at work daily, share stories and tell tales, he would listen and took great interest in my journey from Ireland to America as an immigrant, his love of his family and friends, dry wit and charm led us to a great friendship. 
One day while visiting me at work bruce asked me what do I miss most about home I said my family of course and the food, (he had a giggle ) and expressed his love of British/irish food he said with his put on angry tone "I haven't had mushy peas in over a century can you quite believe it"
(that  give me quite a chuckle)
so I went home that evening sourced a British pub that served MUSHY PEAS 
that Friday off we went on one of our Friday excursions downtown he had no idea what he was about to receive  (pic below) 

you will see how happy the simple things in life made this precious and extremely accomplished man happy 

I am thankful and blessed you came in to my life, I will miss you.
Here's to you  Brucey old chap
all my love forever,
Priscilla.


What a terrific guy Bruce was. I had the pleasure of working with him when he was with Iron Mountain. He was an excellent manager and a true gentleman. 

TWO TALES OF BRUCE AND FLORA:  One afternoon in the office the formidably powerful but impish literary agent Flora Roberts, she told Bruce to just stay seated while she took a call from Hollywood.  It took five minutes for her to negotiate a several-million-dollar deal for a client, after which she turned to Bruce with a stunned smile and said, "Good God, he's going to kill me!"  The one thing the client didn't want, she said, was  the kind of assignment offered, so she'd asked an outrageous fee to make it all just go away.  But they said yes!!

Such were the things people shared with Bruce.  (The client didn't kill Flora, fulfilled the assignment and got an Oscar for it -- along with the unexpected several million.)

We sometimes met Flora for drinks after hours at her favorite bar on 57th Street.  One evening she regaled us with the story of her taking a traumatized chorus girl named Nancy Davis to lunch to let her pour out her broken heart and to give her some sound advice, the consequences of which led decades later to a howlingly wonderful moment at the Kennedy Center during Ms. Davis' eight years as First Lady -- which sadly cannot be put into writing here.  (Ask me in private.)  

People loved talking to Bruce, the great listener.  It was fun to be around for it.

Few people achieve three successful careers in a lifetime.

Child model Bruce Birkenhead was a major contributor to his family’s income during the latter years of the Great Depression.

Dr. Thomas Bruce Birkenhead became a professor and a dean at Brooklyn College, winning a considerable number of awards and honors — his most prized being Teacher of the Year.

ATPAM member Bruce Birkenhead general managed and company managed Broadway plays as the fulfillment of a lifetime love of live theatre.

He also cheerfully admitted to having totally failed in his fledgling  fourth career — in early television.  Because of his looks, he had been hired for an ongoing program back when the studio was on a balcony in Grand Central Station.  After a few episodes were broadcast live, he happily agreed with the director that he had turned out to be a lousy actor.

I had the good luck to have been involved with the third of his successful careers and, in doing so, to have seen the esteem in which he was held by such icons as Mike Nichols and Stockard Channing and such major behind-the-scenes figures as Flora Roberts and Artie Siccardi — and many others.

People loved to talk to Bruce, the great listener.   People admired Bruce.  People loved him.  I was one of them.

I have many memories of my 30 plus year friendship with Bruce -- our Sunday walks to the Columbus Avenue flea market, going to opening nights of shows he managed, eating Indian food (as spicey as possible), and walking down the aisle with him at Ben's and my wedding.  He was part of many family celebrations and patiently attended the baptisms, first communions, confirmations, school plays, music recitals, sports events, and graduations of our three daughters.  For an atheist, he spent a lot of time in church with us.  

Bruce had many wonderful qualities, but the thing I admire most was his genuine interest in other people.  He cared deeply about the well-being of his students and colleagues throughout his career and talked about them frequently.  Every lunch we had started with a recitation of what his children and grandchildren were doing -- he was very proud of how each was making their way.  Even in his 70s and 80s, he was making new friends.

It is probably what kept him forever young.  


I told you many times over the years what a wonderful father you were. Again, thank you for the love that overflowed in your actions and words, passing me so much knowledge, being my backbone when life wasn't kind, and sharing so many stories of your formidable life.

You will live forever in my heart and memories.
I miss you.

OBITUARY

Thomas Bruce Birkenhead

19 December, 1931 – 17 June, 2021

Riverside Memorial Chapel

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