In 1997, Bruce & Maggie moved their young family to Arroyo Grande. They rented a house right across the street from us. My wife, Elizabeth, saw them moving in and saw that they had a small daughter (Jane)  about the same age as our youngest (Kelly, 9 months), Elizabeth ran over and introduced herself, excited to meet them. Elizabeth was very excited to have a neighbor with kids, and kids the same age! Bruce went into his new house and told Maggie that there’s a very excited neighbor across the street. I can just imagine how he would have said it...

So, for the next 15 years, both stay-at-home moms, Maggie and Elizabeth, happily traded kids and Mom tasks. Meanwhile, Bruce and I both did our Dad duties. With work, we were both doing a fair bit of travelling. So having Maggie & Bruce so close and going through the same things in life was a big help. At home, Bruce & I both did volunteer AYSO soccer coach and referee jobs, Destination Imagination coaching and lots of the usual Dad things with our families. The Summers adn Barretts did a plenty of family activities & traditions together such as The Summers' annual Christmas Carroling in December and an ocean plunge at Pismo Beach every New Years’ Day.

At one point, Bruce's employer, Seagate, decided to shut down the local office and Bruce was soon going to be out of a job. Maggie came over and said, Bruce is looking for jobs in LA and SF...but we don’t want to move, what’s going on at the base? I took a copy of Bruce's resume to a few contacts at Vandenberg. One of the people I gave Bruce’s resume to was my friend, Stan Roberts. Stan liked what he saw in Bruce and helped him get a position on the launch pads at Vandenberg (with Boeing?). Bruce rolled up his sleeves and was helpful right away. He was an outstanding engineer and as launch missions and launch system projects were successfully completed with Bruce's support, he moved to new projects and eventually joined our Lockheed Martin team. So I became his manager at Lockheed Martin. That was a pleasure, Bruce was one of our best engineers. Of course, the ULA folks on the launch pads really valued Bruce's work, so Bruce continued helping at the pads (SLC-6 and SLC-3, primarily). He also did critical test operations at the Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale site. He developed test procedures for spacecraft systems & subsystems as well as directed test teams assembling satellites and testing & readying satellites for launch.

Bruce possessed a natural curiosity that really contributed to his expertise. In addition, he was well liked. He was very good at what he did and he enjoyed the work. He brought a healthy sense of humor to the job. People liked Bruce and they liked working with him. Since Bruce and I were both based in Lockheed Martin's Santa Maria office, I heard that a lot.

Bruce was a solid father and engineer. This is too sad and it was so very hard to tell his co-workers that he’s gone. His co-workers at the launch sites will miss him and the Sunnyvale team he supported were saddened to learn of his passing. 

I’m going to miss Bruce.

Great guy, great friend, great co-worker, great person to hang with.

I wish I could stop by his desk for another conversation. He was always up beat and helpful. 

To his family, you were very lucky to have him every day. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 

My heart felt condolences to all that ever got to meet Bruce and know him.

Friends forever,

- Bart

I am so sorry for the loss in the Summers family.  Bruce will be remembered in my mind, as a very smart straight-up guy with a good sense of humor (oh, as a good athlete, too).  

Bruce was a good friend.  We shared a lot of great times as a fraternity brother, skiing at Tahoe, as a roomate in Pasadena when our careers were starting, and as an outstanding family man. 

Brenda and I are praying for  Maggie and the Summers girls at this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Bruce.

Bruce is rembered as a great Friend, coworker at ULA, and Cal Poly classmate. Bruce is one of the smartest and most dedicated Engineers I have ever met. His Significant contribution was a vital key to our mission success when we worked together at United Launch Alliance. Bruce's focus and motivation was never on self but on the mission and on others. I've always admired how diligent a worker Bruce is... His excellent example has been inspirational my entire career since meeting him. I'm honored to have had an opportunity to work with and be a friend to such a remarkable person.  

May your family find peace during this short time of separation until we all will be together again for all eternity 🙏 ❤️ 

Your Friend

Leo

We send up prayers for the Summers family.   Bruce ‘s dedication to his beautiful family will stay in our hearts forever.  We send our love to his family and treasure the times we shared on the sidelines. ❤️