BRUCE STEVENS PROCTOR

Condolences & Memories (3 entries)

• I knew Bruce while in Stockholm, 1968-1972, I was studying at the International Graduate School at the U of Stockholm. I had earlier known his wife Rosemary Wolf Proctor as a classmate at U of Stockholm in 1964-65. My wife & I saw the Proctors socially during the time they were in Stockholm, but I then lost track of them after they moved to Canada. I experienced Bruce as a very sensitive and caring man, which were undoubtedly prime motivating factors in his decision to go to Sweden rather than be sent to Vietnam. If anyone knows the whereabouts of his first wife Rosemary I would be grateful for a postal address or e-mail or phone number. - Posted by: Roger F. Baumann (friend) on: Jan 19, 2015

• I was friends with Bruce while he was in Air Force weapons school with me at Lowry AFB in Denver. He was the most intelligent man I had ever met. I lived in Denver, so was able to introduce him to the Colorado mountains. He introduced me to new ways of expanding my consciousness. After I went to Vietnam, he wrote me, through his parents in Oklahoma and told me he had split for Sweden. I still have the letter somewhere. I was proud of him. I had considered running to Canada, but didn't have the nerve. I just stumbled on his obituary a while back when I was "googling around." I now wish I had looked a few years sooner. I would have loved to have spoken with him. My name is Jim Patsey. I'm in Denver. You can reach me on 303-564-4918 or jdpats@comcast.net I am greatly sorry for your loss. - Posted by: Jim Patsey (friend ) on: Mar 11, 2014

• Bruce and I were roommates and best friends during our college years at American University. In fact, along with Hugh Simon, we formed a famously inseparable three-some. During those years we shared meals, we shared clothing, we even shared girlfriends. Most importantly, we shared our thoughts and dreams. In many important ways, we made each other the kinds of men we became in later life. After Bruce went to Sweden and I to Japan, we met once when I visited him in Stockholm and we hitch-hiked to Norway 'to see the fjords.' During that last trip we affirmed to each other that we felt as close as real brothers and swore to keep in touch the rest of our lives, no matter where we ended up. Somehow it didn't work out that way, although I did manage to call him once so my wife could at least hear Bruce's voice (he was that important to me). But in the end I never did visit him in Canada and went off to Japan to become professor of history as part of the graduate faculty of a prominent university there. In the era when it first became possible to do personal searches on the net, I did try to find him several times, but with the large number of 'Bruce Proctors' I never succeeded. And now, after putting his name into the computer one last time (about 3 days ago) and was stunned to find this obituary, along with the photograph of him in his maturity--the same wry smile, the same warm and kind eyes. That picture brought him back to me. Not that I ever forgot him--how can one ever forget a brother? But I realize that I had made the same mistake many other real brothers do in life. I allowed myself to be satisfied that he was 'out there, somewhere' and failed to make a concerted effort to communicate with him. I cannot tell you how deeply I regret that now, now that it is too late. I grieve with you, his wife and children and siblings. And now that it is too late, I miss him so much. My heart too is broken with grief. O Bruce! My friend, my friend! A part of me dies with you. - Posted by: Peter B. High (a friend, a VERY close friend) on: Nov 13, 2012