Monday, June 19, 2023
Bruce was my childhood friend and neighbor. We met in 1970 when his parents bought a house that was catty-corner to my childhood home. It was a thirty-second walk from my front door to his garage door which was the entry point for all kids going to the Nofsinger home.
I was about six years old when I met Bruce who was two years younger than I. I think my mother took me to the Nofsinger home to meet the new kid on the block. We became immediate friends and played together for years.
We had a great friendship and had a lot of fun together. I must have gone to the Nofsingers’ house hundreds of times to play with Bruce and the kids that would congregate there. In the 1970's, kids would leave their home for hours and play unsupervised with no problems. Bruce’s mother Winnie installed an iron triangle in their back patio which she rang when it was dinner time alerting the kids to head back home after a day of roaming and playing.
Bruce’s Dad built a basketball court in their back yard and the neighborhood kids played on that court for hours until it was dark. We swam in our pools, ran around in the woods and orange grove behind our homes, built forts and tree houses, played sports and games in the streets, went to each other’s birthday parties, and endless activities.
One thing that Bruce excelled at was riding his orange Mongoose motocross bike. He was the best in the neighborhood, and my fifty year-old memory of Bruce on his bike is vivid.
The neighborhood kids fabricated a bike ramp from salvage wood we retrieved from our garages. Bruce would ride his bike fast down Mohawk Trail, hit the ramp, launch into the air, land further down the street, and skid to a stop. We would eyeball the landing point, and measure the distance of the jump with our shoes. Bruce would always sail further than any other kid. The image of Bruce flying through the air with his big head of hair and this determined expression on his face is embedded in my mind. All the kids loved watching Bruce make these big jumps. Bruce was a courageous boy.
Whether we played together or in a group of kids, it did not matter. We got along well and never had any conflict. We had fun. We remained friends although we did not do much together after I became a teenager.
The last time I saw Bruce was at his pre wedding party hosted by his mother in Winter Park. I was very happy that he had thought to include me. Decades evaporated thereafter and that party was the last time I saw Bruce.
On April 7 of this year, I thought of Bruce, put his name in the internet, and discovered the Caring Bridge web site and learned about his cancer journey. I immediately tried to reach Bruce, but it was not until May 2 that I was able to talk to him for the first time in 26 years.
We had a great conversation. We reminisced about our childhood and shared our appreciation for the fun we had and our friendship. It meant a lot to me that we were able to speak. It would have been very difficult for me if I had not had an opportunity to reconnect with Bruce before his passing.
In our conversation, I told Bruce of a theory that I had about him. My theory is that he enjoyed being a kid more than most kids. Bruce was a happy kid who never hesitated to play sports, make friends, or engage in any fun activity. He seemed to live without hesitation. He embraced his childhood. Bruce seemed to agree with my theory. From what I have learned about Bruce from what others have written about him, I think he embraced life in general. So, I think that my theory of his childhood happiness is true.
I think Bruce’s spirit is a product of his genetics and the way his parents raised him. His mother Winnie was exceptionally warm and sweet. Bruce’s father was young and energetic and connected well with his three sons and their friends. I think that Bruce’s parents created a beautiful family environment.
My interaction with Bruce as an adult was minimal. But, I can still recall how Bruce, as a child, had good feelings about me and other people, his energy, enthusiasm, and decency, and I see those qualities in the other tributes posted about his adult life.
I felt like Bruce cared about me as a person. I always felt good in his presence. I wish I had more time with Bruce. These historic friendships are precious, and I was lucky to have a great person like Bruce as my childhood friend.
I send my sincere condolences to Bruce’s wife, son, brothers, parents, extended family and friends.
Brett Bressler
(704) 218-9955