Cooperative Living August 2021 - 34

In Memoriam: John Bruce
Rural Living | by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
Reflections on a wonderful friend
A
ll of us at Cooperative Living,
here and into South Carolina,
suffered a big loss in June.
Noted editor, writer and top-notch
photographer John Bruce passed away
suddenly at his home in Monterey, Va.
I'm sure many of you remember
John, or at least, his stories. They were
always insightful, laced with a bit of
humor, and his photographs were
rarely short of stunning.
Richard G. Johnstone Jr., our
beloved, recently retired executive
editor at Cooperative Living, met John
in high school, where they worked
on the school newspaper. Then,
both ended up at the University
of Richmond, where, naturally,
they ended up at the college
newspaper. Eventually, when
Richard became editor of what was
then Rural Living, it didn't take him
long to find a place for his colleague.
Johnstone recently told The
Recorder newspaper in Monterey,
where Bruce was Highland editor,
" It was clear that John was the
consummate visual artist, his keen
eye turning mundane images into
interesting, intriguing, memorable
photographs. ... His low-key approach,
rumpled style and sharp sense of
humor were on display. He was always
a lot of fun to be around, in the
newsroom, in the classroom or out
enjoying a fine meal. " The two were
friends for at least 50 years.
After college, and before finding
his way to Rural Living, John was a
reporter at the Goochland Gazette.
One fateful day in 1981, the young
woman who sold advertising happened
to stop by John's desk. When John was
introduced, Carol says, " He blushed.
That did it for me. It was instantaneous.
He was a really gentle person, and
sweet guy. "
By the way, this sweet, gentle guy
was a giant. He was towering; his
32 | Cooperative Living | August 2021
presence commanded a room. During
his youth, his nickname was " Tank. "
John and Carol " rarely ever spent
any time apart, " she says. They married
June 16, 1984. After 10 years at
Cooperative Living here, they moved
to Columbia, S.C., where John was
editor of another co-op magazine.
But, the mountains called. When
John saw an ad for the Highland editor
at The Recorder, he ambled up north.
Recorder publisher Anne Adams
remembers the day well. She knew John
was way overqualified for the job and
told him so. He told her he wanted the
job. " Offer it to me now, " he said.
" I've got to go look at a house. "
John bought a house that
very day and told Carol about it.
It's a testament to their closeness
as a couple that she was happy
about having a new home she hadn't
yet seen. " If he didn't know my tastes
well enough by then, we'd be over, "
Carol told Anne.
I didn't get to spend nearly enough
time with John, or Carol, both of whom
I " loved " at first meet. I do remember
a special night, though. We were all at
a Virginia Press Association conference.
We were there to pick up a pile of
awards. After the ceremony, we went to
the bar, with hundreds of other reporters
and press people. We began to dance.
John wasn't a dancer, but he was
a great partner. Carol dragged him to
the floor. He grabbed a cocktail napkin
off the table. While Carol wriggled
and writhed and pranced around him,
he stood there, a sort of pivot point.
Every now and then, he would roll his
eyes, and dab his face with the cocktail
napkin. It was a wonderful way to
observe a true couple in action.
We will all miss John terribly. A great
guy, gone way too soon. Perhaps The
Recorder tribute said it best: " A job well
done: Editor leaves a lasting legacy. "
Could any of us hope for more? 
co-opliving.com
WherezIt?
Look for the CL logo, like the one here, in
the pages of each issue of Cooperative Living.
Submit the page number where you found
it along with your name, email and phone
number to WherezIt, c/o Cooperative Living,
P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340 or
go online at co-opliving.com under " Contests. "
Deadline is Aug. 20. The winner will receive
a $25 Amazon email gift card.
The CL in the June issue
was hidden on page 7.
Mary Betts of Nathalie, Va.,
is our WherezIt winner.
Congratulations, Mary!
WhatzIt?
Each issue, we will publish a photo of a familiar
but unidentified object. Submit your best
guess along with your name, email and phone
number to WhatzIt?, c/o Cooperative Living,
P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340
or guess online at co-opliving.com under
" Contests. " Deadline is Aug. 20. Correct
entries will be placed in a drawing for a
$25 Amazon email gift card.
DO YOU
KNOW WHAT
THIS IS?
The June WhatzIt was ballet shoes.
Kay Basil of Stafford, Va., is our $25 email
gift card winner. Congratulations, Kay!
http://www.co-opliving.com http://www.co-opliving.com http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2021

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