It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the death of Bruce Voorheis, age 81, of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, where he was surrounded by his loved ones before he died peacefully in his sleep. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Virginia and Leroy Voorheis who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Sonya Martin. He leaves behind, to cherish his memory, Carolyn Voorheis, his loving wife of 57 years; two daughters, Kimberly Mazziotti and her husband Paul Mazziotti of Naples, FL and Carolyn Summers and her husband Ellis Summers of Naples, FL; four grandsons, Devin Vinyard, Conner Vinyard, Wells Summers and Burch Summers; brother-in-law, Dave Martin; two nieces, one nephew, several cousins, great nieces and nephews; and his wonderful little dog, Snickers.
Bruce grew up in Mariemont, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati, and graduated from Mariemont High School in 1961. At a young age his father taught him tennis and it became his favorite sport and passion. Bruce became a National Boys' Singles Runner-up, later won the Cincinnati Boys' Singles and Doubles Championship, and was a member of the Cincinnati Tennis Club.
He attended DePauw University where he played on the tennis team, served as captain his senior year, joined the ATO fraternity, and graduated in 1965 with a B.A. in History. While on campus he met the “love of his life” Carolyn Turner whom he married in 1967 at Knox Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.
Bruce received his MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Cincinnati and joined Xerox as a Sales Representative, immediately earning recognition by winning the Leading Sales Representative Mid-Atlantic Region Award. His success with Xerox landed him in Washington, D.C. and Rochester, NY as the College and University Marketing Manager. He was quickly promoted to work in New York City as a Sales Manager, and moved his family to New Canaan, Connecticut where they lived for 21 years. Bruce's sales team excelled and he earned recognition as the Northeast Region's Leading Sales Manager.
Bruce always made spending time with his family a priority and loved to plan special spring and summer vacations. He taught his daughters to play tennis at The Lake Club where he also won several singles and doubles tennis tournaments. He played platform paddle tennis, coached a girls YMCA softball team for 6 years, led a YMCA Indian Princess tribe, served as an elder at the New Canaan Congregational Church, and participated in the United Way Fundraising Drives.
After leaving Xerox in 1978 he became a part owner and Vice President of Lubin Business Interiors, which became one of Steelcase's leading office furniture dealers. Years later he and a partner acquired Desks, Inc. in NYC, later sold it and he co-founded Office Furniture Solutions. Eventually, he and Carolyn moved to Fairfield, CT and then to Charlotte, NC for 18 years where he worked as an Executive Account Manager for Relocation Strategies, was very active in Trinity Presbyterian Church ministries, and served on the Board of IFMA (International Facility Management Association) as their Membership Chairman for over 20 years.
Their final move was to Ocean Isle Beach, NC where he made many friends playing pickleball at Ocean Ridge Plantation, enjoyed long walks on the beach, going to beach worship services, summer concerts, attending Newcomers meetings, events, parties, and worship services at Shallotte Presbyterian Church, while also finding time for gardening, reading, volunteering, following the Cincinnati Reds games, and enjoying life every day. Bruce’s genuine and kind spirit, as well as his zest for living will be missed by everyone who knew him.
A memorial service to celebrate a life well-lived will be held at Shallotte Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 7th at 1pm. After-service refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall. Urn burial will take place at a later date in the family burial site at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Donations to celebrate his wonderful and full life may be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation (SECU Hospice House of Brunswick), Shallotte Presbyterian Church, or Trinity Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC.
Online condolences may be made at www.shallottefunerals.com
White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel
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