Bruce Henry McGinnis

Bruce grew up with his two siblings, Marty McGinnis and Marilyn (McGinnis) Kendrick.

He attended St. Michael's High School in Flint, where he was a tri-sport athlete in

football, baseball, and his favorite, basketball. Senior year, as the star center, his basketball career

culminated in winning a city championship, beating rival St. Matthew’s, where a cheerleader by the name of Joan Elias stood on the sidelines, star struck. After graduation, while attending General Motors Institute of Technology, he met that same cheerleader one summer night at the local A&W Root Beer stand. He started a courtship with Joan and, in 1956, they got married. Bruce graduated from GMI in 1958 with a BS in Industrial Engineering. During his 23 years at the Buick Motor Division of GMC, he diligently worked his way from engineering student to General Supervisor of Maintenance and Production. He was noted for developing programs in Preventive Maintenance and Safety First.

In 1975, Bruce and Joan decided to take their four children, move to South Haven and become

owners of the Lake Bluff Motel & Resort. During their 5 years there, they renovated and revitalized the motel into a successful tourist destination, where the family motto was “Here, at Lake Bluff Motel, we do good work.” That mantra resonated beyond property lines as Bruce became an esteemed member of the South Haven community, joining Rotary International in 1975, becoming the president of the Chamber of

Commerce as well as Chairman of the United Way Campaign.

During his down time, he loved to hunt and fish with family. The 1980s brought the first of a couple dramatic changes, with Bruce and Joan selling the motel and moving cross-country to Tucson, AZ in 1980. They purchased 3 self-service car washes and a gas station. Shortly after, Bruce founded the Southern Arizona Auto Wash Association. In 1983, to explore the world, they put the car washes in the hands of a manager and moved to New South Wales, Australia. For two years, Bruce worked as an Operations Manager for the heavy engineering and manufacturing of underground coal mining equipment at Joy Manufacturing, Pty. Ltd. He then worked as a General Manager for Teknis Pty. Ltd., where he was involved in many aspects of electronics including design, manufacturing, export and sales and he made his mark by converting the company’s annual 1.9 million dollar loss to break even status in only 18 months. They returned to Tucson in 1988 and Bruce resumed duties at the car washes until his retirement in 2020 at the age of 85. In recent conversations, he noted one of his greatest compliments came from his car wash customers as they recognized his efforts in having the best car wash in Tucson.

Throughout his work life, he always personified his incredible work ethic and instilled “Bruce’s rules”

into the minds of those who worked with him, including his children. His number one rule was, “If you are

going to do something, do it right, or don’t do it at all.” Other favorites were “you gotta want it” and “you will never know unless you go” and the always loving, “whatcha got, shit for brains?”

He was a devoted husband to Joan (Elias) McGinnis and beloved father to Susan Minor, Peter (Gerry) McGinnis, Mary McGinnis, and Kris (Dariush) Mehrabani. He was an adored grandfather to Patrick (Monica) Leahy, Michelle and Michael Minor, Sarah Lawson, Katie and Peter McGinnis, Armeen (Jasmine) and Beejan (Shannon) Mehrabani and cherished great-grandfather to Ava and Bridgette Minor. He is met in heaven by Neva, Martin, Marty and his infant children Brucie, Michael, Matthew, Paul, Lynn and Colleen.

Services will be held in Flint, Michigan later this year with family and friends.

In his honor: turn on the UofA Wildcats, light a cigar, raise up a Foster’s and cherish those you love.