Bruce Frederick Avedon was born on April 10, 1959 to Bruce and Shirlee Avedon at Worcester Memorial Hospital, Worcester Massachusetts, 6 weeks premature and weighing over 8 pounds! His older sister, Linda, was delighted to have a "real" doll and constantly helped her mother to hold and feed him!
He was baptised at First Congressional Church in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The family spent much of their time visiting his maternal grandparents in Fitzwilliam NH where he learned how to a clean a chicken house, a horse barn and pick up rotten apples all with his little red shovel! He hated those chores but loved dearly his Mimi and Pop-Pop. He also loved to visit his paternal grandparents most Spring breaks who resided in Miami Beach, Florida and a great way to celebrate his birthday and Easter. Pop-Pop, Yolanda and Mimi were the icing on his cake.
In 1969 the family moved to Cincinnati, OH where he finished school and graduated in 1977 from Anderson High School. While in High School he met a group of young men who to this day still remain in constant touch - Todd, Bill, Ed, Charlie and Dan (Deceased).
Bruce attended Marietta College, Marietta OH to study Petroleum Engineering. There he met a group of "Yankees" who joined him in transferring their sophomore year to Louisiana State University to continue their studies in Petroleum Engineering. Bruce graduated in 1981. This group and some from Louisiana have remained close friends - Kevin, Dave, Johnny, and Steve.
He began his career with Sun Oil and Gas and as the industry changed where companies merged and bought each other, he worked for numeorus companies as a drilling engineer on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore of California and land rigs througout the state of Texas. His specialty was handling "blow-outs".
Through Kevin he met his Houston set of close friends, Darrell, Jim, Victor, Keith and Tim and their spouses. Ask them and his long-time working colleagues Doug, Mike, Steve (deceased) to share their stories about Bruce!
Friends and family meant everything to Bruce and especially when diagnosed in 2006 with third stage colon cancer. Surgery of the cancer went well but there were complications that led him paralized from the knees down among other issues. ALL of them have been his rock for the past 16 years.
His main objective in life was to take care of his mother, who had dimentia and other ailments but remained in her home with the support of her team of caregivers 24 hours at day for 13 years. He was tough on them to guarentee his mother received the best of care but appreciated all.
No longer able to take care of himself Bruce also had an army of caregivers that spent 12 hours a day, 7 days a week helping him. Along this road, one of his caregivers came into his life that was "special". Priscilla Bob cared for Bruce 5 days a week, 9 hours a day, for 9 years. Their relationship grew into a 6 year love affair and finally they were able to marry June 2, 2021. Priscilla was the love of his life. She made him so happy and her love and care for him is beyond words.
Bruce had a big personality that once you met him you would never forget him. He was caring, supportive, loving, grateful and a practical joker. However, at the same time he was frustrated and angry that he had to rely on others. In the last 18 months, Bruce became tired, and his body no longer was working for but against him.
Now, he is no longer is in pain and at peace. "SUMO" will forever be remembered by those who knew him and live forever in our hearts.
A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 1PM at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas 77027.
Memorial Service will be livestream at www.stlukesmethodist.org/Bruce-Avedon/
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Avedon family.
