Bruce Bryant

Bruce was born to George and Arlene Bryant in Milwaukie WI on May 24, 1929. He joined the Navy at age 17. After discharge, he attended the University of Wisconsin where he met Jean Lorenzen on a blind date. Recalled into the Navy in 1950, he was stationed in Hawaii. Jean made what was then an exciting journey to Honolulu where they were married in August 26, 1951. Another few years of service and another discharge found the couple back in Madison, Wisconsin where Bruce earned his law degree. By the time he graduated they had two children, and Bruce determined to pursue career path which offered more immediate financial rewards than a young lawyer and he joined Aeroquip Corp in Industrial Marketing. He and Jean moved what was their growing family from Wisconsin to Oregon, then Michigan and finally upstate New York where they lived in the small village of Cazenovia from 1960 to 1973. During this time he began his own business as a Manufactures Representative. It was here he learned to sail and ski, and he and Jean developed what as to become a life-long interest in tennis. Bruce took up photography, winning awards at local shows. He continued with this hobby when he took a job with Rankin Co in Baltimore Maryland. Bruce served on the Foster Care Review Board and was a volunteer EMT. He finished his career as a realtor. On a visit to Oregon, he bought an RV, and thus retired in 1993. He and Jean sold nearly all their belongings and traveled the country in the RV, looking for the perfect place to settle down. They found Las Cruces in 1996 and happily began their active retirement. Bruce became a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the foster care system. He joined the Mesilla Valley Radio Club and enjoyed speaking with people from around the world on his short wave radio. And so important to both he and Jean, the Las Cruces Tennis Association provided fun, exercise and dear friends and companions, on and off the court.

Bruce is survived by his brother Dick of Oconomowoc WI, and his five children: Gregg (Rochester, NY), Diane (Bend, OR), Bradley (Charlotte, NC), Lisa (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) and Karrie (Charlotte, NC). He also had seven grandchildren. Jean preceded him in death November 2007. Bruce was a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. A Celebration service will be held at the Sonoma Ranch, Las Cruces, NM on January 28, 2012 at 6PM. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Shadow Mountain.com, donations may be sent in his name to Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley, 3551 Bataan Memorial West, Las Cruces, N.M. 88012.

All the voices now silent, still heard in my head

Once living and now dead

We take up the mantle with the promise not to drop the thread

Passing the love and joy of life to those that come in our stead

We grieve in the passing and rejoice in the memory we take into the days ahead.