Bruce is survived by his wife, Julia Inman Triftshauser; daughters Carna Triftshauser of Montgomery, AL, and Kendra Triftshauser Haskins of Mobile, AL; and one grandson.
Bruce was born on August 17, 1942 in Warsaw, NY to Walter and Marian Triftshauser. He grew up as the youngest of three and attended Alexander High School. After graduating from Tri-State University in 1965, he pursued a career in higher education and worked at his alma mater. It was there that he met Julia Inman, whom he went on to marry in 1968. Soon his work took their young family to several cities including Angola, IN, Mitchell, SD, and Windfield, IL. In 1976, they settled in Montgomery, AL when Bruce accepted the role of Dean of Admissions at Huntingdon College.
Through his collegiate work, Bruce discovered a passion for helping people. Professionally, this led him to a career with Wilson Learning and eventually owning Business Performance Solutions, a licensee of Wilson Learning, with a focus on executive development.
It was through his work at Huntingdon that Bruce was introduced to Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss. He began as a volunteer in 1977 with the state program in Alabama and went on to serve as the state chairman from 1997 – 2009. He also worked at the national level as a volunteer during the annual National Finals and as a member of the National Support Team, mentoring other state chairmen. In January 2017, the Alabama state program created a scholarship in honor of his more than 40 years of service to the organization. He leaves a legacy of empowering thousands of young women to reach their full, personal potential.
He was also an active member of the Lake Martin RV community since 1993 and served on it’s Board of Directors for a number of years.
Bruce passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, after a battle with brain cancer. He will be remembered as an excellent businessman, friend to many always ready with a smile, and a leading figure in the community.
Friends and family are invited to attend the service on Saturday, March 17 at 11 am at Alabama Heritage (10505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36117). A Celebration of Bruce’s life will immediately follow at the Woodland Creek Community Center (8800 Lodge Drive, Pike Road, AL 36064). The family is grateful for condolences and encourages donations to Distinguished Young Women of Alabama (PO Box 231180, Montgomery, AL 36123) in lieu of flowers.
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