I fenced for 4 years with Chuck at U. of D.  An outstanding baseball player who was offered a position on that team by Head Coach Bob Miller, as indicated elsewhere on this site, he decided to join his 2 brothers to participate as a fencer.  He was the best fencer on the 1965-1966 freshman team; we all fenced the foil weapon on a separate freshman team as none of the first-year fencers could compete on the varsity squad.  No one on that team had previously competed as a fencer anywhere.  During his second year he competed in foil as a starter with senior Lee Woodley and team co-captain Tom Berschback, and he secured a winning record as the second-best fencer in that weapon.   As only fate would have it, all three of them majored in Math in their academic studies.    The following year in 1967-1968 the Titans posted a losing season record, but, because of the heroics of Chuck and epeeist John Kolenda, the finished 15th in the NCAA championships.  Chuck was voted the Most Valuable Player on that UD team.  In 1969, Chuck and I served as the Co-Captains of that squad.  Those talented swordsmen compiled a season record of 16 wins and 2 defeats; they also finished 6th in the NCAA tournament.  Numerous members of that team formed important parts of the 1971 squad (3rd in the nation) and the 1972 edition (6th in the USA).  As of this date, the 1972 team has won the only sole and undisputed NCAA athletic championship in the history of the University of Detroit Mercy.  While Chuck failed to secure All-American honors in the years of 1968 and 1969, a later revised definition of that category years resulted in his having become a second team All-American in 1968 and a third team All-American in 1969.  Also, he won the most collegiate bouts of any of the 15

 fencers who began their academic studies at U of D or elsewhere in 1965, 1966, or 1967.  Among his numerous teammates were National AAU champions Dan Cantillon and Tyrone Simmons who also both represented the United States on the USA Olympic teams of 1968 or 1972.     To the best of my knowledge, the two most successful families as UDM fencers have been the Bruce and the Berschback clans.    Other fast facts, of all of the fencers who competed for the U of D Titans from 1965 until 1970, just 8 (including Chuck) served their country in the USA Military Forces during a wartime era.   Finally, CB loved reading science fiction books, had 2 great parents and 2 special brothers, and accumulated outstanding friends while at Grosse Pt. High School. 

My sincerest condolences to all of the Bruce family members regarding their terrible loss.

Fondest memories of my Best Friend: Charles/Chuck/Charlie Bruce:

My name is Allan Dick, and these are my warm memories of Charlie (Chuck) Bruce.

It was November, 1962 when I first met Chuck Bruce (as he was known in those days – although mostly Charlie to his family) on the basketball court at Grosse Pointe High School, both of us auditioning for the junior varsity basketball team. Right from the beginning we seemed to share an attitude and enjoyment of all things that almost instantly led to a bond of friendship – one that lasted a lifetime. While we shared the love of basketball, among other things, his passion resulted in him being captain of the Varsity 2 years later. I wasn’t so proficient. So, I became his biggest fan, and he reciprocated when I was on the gridiron.

We became best friends in no time and Chuck even shared his conveniently located school locker with me for 3 years. Both good students (again, him the better), we seemed to be in synch on so many things, double dated, even went on a co-ed (American Youth Hostels) canoe trip, though neither of us had ever canoed previously. Chuck was elected senior class treasurer and graduated with high honors. But as high school ended, I went to college in Ohio, while he followed his brothers by entering University of Detroit and remarkably made the 10-man freshman basketball team, despite being only 5’9” tall.

Having accomplished that, but also recognizing his shortcomings, Chuck stepped away from basketball and pursued fencing , as his brothers had done. He captained the U of D fencing team and barely missed All-American honors his junior and senior years. Notably, after he graduated, he also won the Michigan state fencing championship in 2 different weapons, foil and epee (defeating his oldest brother, Michael). Oh yes, Chuck graduated from U of D with honors (of course). Before graduating, Chuck also met a lovely nursing student, Kathy Sturm (on a blind date), who would become the love of his life!

We stayed close when I came home from school and during the summers, and as the end of our 4 years loomed, we snatched the opportunity to sign up for a local Michigan Army National Guard (MASH) unit to become medics and avoid an all-expenses-trip to Vietnam! Then, even during our 6 months basic training, first at Fort Polk Louisianna, followed by Fort Sam Houston just outside San Antonio, Texas, in the heat of summer, we managed to stay attached during our medic training and preparation for our 6-year “weekend-warrior” obligation. Soon after our return, Chuck went to work for IBM in the Detroit area and asked Kathy to Marry him (she said yes). They were married at Greenfield Village in 1971 and I was his best man (as was he for me about a year later). Good times!

They had an apartment in Roseville, MI, and rather quickly thereafter (or so it seemed) first daughter Krista appeared, followed soon by Michele. These were my first friends’ children, and I remember them vividly – very cute and very precocious. I enjoyed visiting them there in Roseville, then in Akron, OH, their next stop as IBM moved Chuck and family up and around. I also recall playing with the girls at their Martha’s Vineyard condo – fun! Chuck was also active (for a relatively short time) in an historic all-men’s combination fraternal & amateur theatre club, The Players, in downtown Detroit, following his father’s footsteps, before IBM moved him out of town. He also sponsored me into that club 50 years ago.

After a progression of upward moves the family ultimately landed in Wilton, CT. By then, I think, Chuck was giving way to Charlie on a broader basis. Wilton became home base for several years, as the Bruces became very active in the local community and schools. In addition to being a dutiful, doting father, Charlie was always perfecting his photography skills, and I am proud to have one of his vivid, colorful sunset photos on our wall.

But, while Charlie loved taking pictures of such natural scenes and scenery, he was passionate about and devoted to taking sports and activity photos, first with his children and friends, but later for the local schools as the children left their nest. This continued from Wilton to their later home in Jaffrey, NH. Charlie was also the key photographer for neighboring Keane High School’s athletics (and maybe more, if my memory serves). He always enjoyed being active in the community and with local schools.

Fortunately, for many years, despite being separated by hundreds of miles, we managed to get together, a few times on visits to Michigan; more often, for several years, meeting (“half-way”) at Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada (for reunion, wine and theatre); and occasionally for special reunions at Martha’s Vineyard. Unfortunately, distance and other reality excuses had kept us (my wife Anne and me) from visiting again for quite a few years, finally visiting he and Kathy at their assisted living facility (home) in Peterborough, NH. By that time Charlie was a shadow of his once vibrant personality. ☹

Charlie loved life, loved his family and loved giving. I am reminded to add that, for all my history, allegiance and love for Charlie (Chuck😊) through 60+ years, I/we have also been blessed to know and love his life partner and no doubt his greatest love, Kathy. I have often thought, through the years, that she was the perfect wife for my best friend, Charlie, as well as the perfect mother for their children. I am sad we not able to attend Charlie’s memorial and seeing the family, especially Kathy and the kids & grandkids.