Bruce A. Newman

To Bruce A. Newman, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Bruce, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Bruce really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Bruce was born on January 24, 1939 at Elizabeth General Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His parents were Bruce and Eleanor Newman. Bruce was raised in Roselle Park, New Jersey. Even as a child, Bruce had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Bruce was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Bruce managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Bruce was raised with two siblings. He had and older sister, Eleanor Betty "Sis", and a brother, Lewis.

All of Bruce's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Bruce experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football. Bruce's memorable achievements included saving his father from a fire when he was 16.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Bruce was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Bruce simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Bruce, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Bruce's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Bruce graduated from Roselle Park High School in 1957. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Kasam.

Bruce never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Bruce to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Bruce delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Bruce was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Bruce utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were George Lyons, George Sweggie, Ernie Finezio and Louis Zeleznick. Later in life, he became friends with Joe Ramakas, Billy Brown and Larry Monaco. Bruce loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Bruce very easy to approach. On September 23, 1961 Bruce exchanged wedding vows with Helen Marie Behr at Church of the Assumption of Roselle Park, New Jersey. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage. Bruce and Helen celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary September 23, 2011.

Perhaps the reason Bruce related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Bruce was blessed with three daughters, Sherri, Dawn and Hope. They were also blessed with ten grandchildren, Leah, Robby and wife Alise, Kate, Luke, Megan, Drew, Lexie, Georgia, Matt, and Kristen. Bruce had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Bruce's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Bruce had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Bruce was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Bruce liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Bruce was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Bruce's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Bruce as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was machinist. He was employed for Lincoln Mold, Tool and Die.

Bruce was a Navy veteran. He was stationed all over the world.

Bruce enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Bruce liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were coin collecting, collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, trains metal detecting, hunting, fishing, raising birds, and caring for fish tanks. Bruce was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Bruce felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Bruce loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Bruce relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Bruce never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Bruce played football. Recreational sports included playing golf. Bruce was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football and golf.

Bruce had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Bruce's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. In high school, Bruce was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Moose,and Fin and Claw Hunting Club.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Bruce recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of Community Methodist Church and Calvary Church.

Living life in the fast lane suited Bruce just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included going to Maine every year, and camping in Tennessee, Colorado and Idaho.

Bruce was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. Bruce's favorites were Fluffy the dog and Ellie, a pug. Fluffy was a member of the family for 16 years, and Ellie for 8 years.

Bruce believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1990, Bruce took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating from New Jersey to Sarasota, Florida. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Bruce remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in collecting. Even in retirement, Bruce continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Bruce passed away on September 27, 2011 at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Bruce had several health issues, which he bravely fought, for many years. He is survived by his loving wife Helen; three daughters, Sherri and husband Bob, Dawn and husband Cory, Hope and husband Chris; ten grandchildren, Leah, Robby and wife Alise, Kate, Luke, Megan, Lexi, Matt, Drew, Kristen, and Georgia; brother, Lewis. Services were held at Palms-Robarts Funeral Home.

Bruce brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Bruce A. Newman lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.