Shipmates,
It is with the deepest regret that I must inform you that Commodore Robert “Bob” Bruce crossed the bar on September 14, 2026 at his home in Bristol, Tennessee.
Born December 15, 1945, in Dothan, Alabama to Otho and Mary (McCarty) Bruce, Bob grew up in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from Florida State High School and Florida State University, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting and applied mathematics. Bob married Jan Wooters on September 3, 1977, in Bal Harbor, Florida. They celebrated their 49th anniversary two weeks before his death.
After serving in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970 (stationed in Minot, North Dakota; and Udorn Air Force Base in Thailand), Bob held various roles in the world of accounting and finance. He spent most of his career working for Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, PA; Buffalo, NY; and Abingdon, VA. He retired as general manager when the Abingdon plant closed in 1996. He was the last man on scene, literally turning out the lights.
Commodore Bruce joined CGD Heartland Eastern’s Flotilla 12-7 (Quad City) in 2004. He would command that flotilla in short order. He went on to serve in many positions at the division, district, and national levels. Commodore Bruce became the Auxiliary’s first Chief Financial Officer in 2016. His crowning achievement in his six years as CFO was was to assist the active duty Coast Guard in their transition to a new retirement system.
Commodore Bruce’s name will be inscribed on the Commodores’ Monument at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey.
