Mariposa Gazette

Popular Categories

John Bruce


 

 

My father, John “Jack” Bruce, a man many of you knew well as an artist and friend, passed in the early morning hours of Feb. 12, 2018.

He was born in Los Angeles on April 8, 1931 to Merle and Katherine Bruce. His brother, Robert (Bud) Bruce, preceded him in death, but his sister Catherine is still living in Arizona.

Dad attended Garfield High School in East Los Angeles where he played in the school band and impressed his fellow students with his artistic talent, becoming the yearbook artist. There he met my mother, Delores (Dee) Moore.

Mom and dad married after high school (they were married for 17 years) and dad joined the Army as a trumpet player for the Army Band. But dad didn’t like the spit shine discipline of the band, so he put in for a transfer to the Military Police. The Army promptly sent him to the Korean War. Dad won the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters.

 

 

When Dad was honorably discharged, he went to school for both art and psychology. He worked for a time for North American Rockwell doing artwork and drafting; he also worked in the early 60s for advertising agencies. Eventually he quit the work a day world and became a freelance artist.

Dad became famous for his detailed, colorful and striking paintings of Native Americans and cowboys, winning the American Cowboy and Indian Artists award for Artist of the Year in 1984. He won many other awards, was several times featured on the cover of Southwestern Art, and even earned an honorable mention in the prestigious Butler Art Show out of New York. Some of his lithographs are in the Smithsonian in Washington.

In the mid-1980s, dad moved to Mariposa and lived the rest of his life on his five acres up in the hills, with his beloved pond in the backyard. He was well known in Mariposa, both as an artist and a teacher. He had many friends in the area and donated many pieces of art for local organizations.

Due to an unfortunate accident at the VA Hospital in the mid- 2000s, dad’s right arm was damaged. He could no longer paint, ending a decades-long career.

Dad is survived by his children, Lorrie Erstad, who lives with her husband David Lerner in New York; Glenn Bruce, who retired from CalTrans this year and lives with his wife Shelly in Rancho Cucamonga; myself, Mark Bruce, an attorney working in Placer County as a public defender living in Sacramento; and my sister, Leslie Reining, who took care of dad in his last year on the planet.

Dad also leaves five grandchildren: Glenn’s kids are Stephanie and Jeff; Leslie’s children are Elizabeth and Joshua; and my son is Adam.

We are going to inter dad at the Dixon Cemetery with other veterans so they can all tell each other war stories for eternity.

6 responses to “John Bruce”

  1. MariposaVet says:

    I appreciate your father’s service to our country! He will be missed.

  2. Anthony Marchese says:

    I knew him as a child being a friend of Joshua’s I always knew him as a kind man and even after years of being away he remembered me when I last spoke to him a couple of years ago I admit I did not know him well but I feel honored to have met him

  3. Teri A OToole says:

    I am deeply saddened and surprised at the passing of your father. He was my dad’s oldest and dearest friend and we spoke on the phone a few times each year since my dads passing. Most of my memories of my own father include “Jack” since the two of them were quite the pair in their younger days. I had not spoken to him since January and when calling him today was surprised to find the number was no longer in service. I am so sorry for your loss. He will be missed.

  4. Charlotte says:

    I have a painting of. SB Mission painted and signed by John Bruce. It was told to me it was done with a spatula Absolutely beautiful

  5. Michele Cirone says:

    My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
    Am an old friend if your sister Leslie , whom I had the pleasure of meeting and built friendship along my journey in life with her and also had the wonderful experience of meeting her father in Mariposa during an evening drive to get away from South LakeTahoe, having a lovely drive with great company and meeting her Father was a privilege and an honor.I lost touch with Leslie, “My LeslielLina” is what I called her, a great friend and her children too…had to leave Tahoe area suddenly 2 years later u pon my return she had moved away & was unable to find her. If she reads this message..My name is Michele, Love to communicate with Leslie one day here before Am unable .please feel free to forward this email cironemichele1@gmail.com or call & leave message or may also send a text/ @ 415-933-2000,

  6. Matt Baffert says:

    “Grampa John” inspired me in so many ways and had a huge positive impact on me when I was young. Growing up in Los Angeles area, it was great to be able to get away from the city and enjoy the outdoors in and around Mariposa. Whether it was swimming and fishing in his pond or a quick trip to Yosemite to go hiking, it was my favorite place to go away from home. Because of my time with him, I gained an appreciation of the outdoors which probably led to my passion in trail stewardship. I always kept in touch with him. He was married to my moms mom during much of my childhood. Such a talented and unique person. It was fun to stumble upon this old article and reminisce. I think of him all the time.

Leave a Reply to Anthony Marchese Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.