Henry C. Bruce Jr.
Surrounded by his family, Henry C. Bruce Jr. (Hank) died June 4, 2023, at his home in Sonoma, CA, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Born October 28, 1936, Hank was raised in Sacramento, CA. Attending Sacramento High School, he played football and was Student Body President. Matriculating at Princeton University, Hank graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Architecture. Upon graduation, he completed Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Naval Civil Engineer Corps. After leaving the Navy, Hank and his first wife, Meredith, moved to Europe. They spent a summer traveling before settling in London, where Hank kick-started his architectural career at a local firm.
Returning to the United States, Hank planted roots in San Francisco and joined Bull, Field, Volkmann, Stockwell Architects. His entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to establish his firm, Hank Bruce Architects, in Tiburon, CA, in 1973. His work was primarily residential, and the occasional office building, winery or commercial structure provided variety and challenge. Hank also supported the Tiburon-Belvedere community through the years by actively participating as a founding member of the Tiburon-Belvedere Rotary Club, as a representative of the town of Tiburon to the board of directors of The Hilarita, as a member of the Senior Housing Advisory Board, as a longtime member of the chamber of commerce and as a frequent contributor to various improvement projects throughout the community. His commitment to his art never waned; even after moving to Sonoma, he continued designing with his firm, which recently celebrated its fiftieth year.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Hank was devoted to his family, friends, and sports. Learning to play squash in graduate school, he spent many years playing at the University Club of San Francisco and traveling for national tournaments. After moving to Sonoma, he played tennis and golf well into his eighties with a competitive desire to defeat his sometimes much younger opponents.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; children Peter and Anna; son-in-law Ryan; and granddaughter, Mae Pearl. He was loved dearly by Nancy’s children, Victoria, Robb, and their families. In place of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Petaluma in Hank’s name. The family will hold a celebration of Hank’s life at a later date.