Bruce Spencer
SCOTTSDALE – Bruce Franklin Spencer passed away unexpectedly on August 4, 2018 at the age of 60. He was born in Oxnard, California but soon came to Arizona and lived here the rest of his life.
He attended Tonalea elementary, Coronado high, U of A and ASU . He was an Eagle Scout and earned the God and Country award.
Bruce spent the majority of his working life at Pasc/Daniel Petroleum performing in several different capacities including many years as the manager of the gas station at Scottsdale Fashion Square. In his twenties, he was a co-owner of the Stagger Inn where he happily met many people, some who remained friends for life.
In recent years, he acted as a roadie for the Looney Tooner Kitchen Band, a volunteer kazoo band that entertains at retirement communities and care facilities, primarily handling the percussion equipment for his father, the band’s drummer. He also assisted the stage manager of the Salt River Brass, an all-volunteer brass and percussion ensemble based at the Mesa Arts Center. Bruce was an associate member of the Dons of Arizona, a civic organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Southwest. One of their many projects is Discovery Camp, a program that provides a day of hands on experiences of Arizona history for fourth graders at the Dons base camp at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. He particularly enjoyed being able spend time in that majestic setting while helping to educate young people.
In all these roles as well as his everyday life he would not only do his best to do whatever was asked of him but was able to anticipate when help was needed and would jump right in often with very creative solutions.
Bruce was an avid and knowledgeable fan of most sports especially the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals and Sun Devil football. He enjoyed going to Diamondback games, was a season ticket holder for the Cardinals for a few years but his most dedicated experience as a fan was attending nearly every ASU home football game for 30 years. He also relished traveling including a five week European tour he received as a high school graduation gift. He visited many midwestern and western states, stopping at numerous National Parks along the way, but his favorite form of travel was cruising with trips to Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean and the St. Lawrence and Columbia rivers.
His sudden passing has left all who knew him in shock and missing his affable and generous presence in their lives. He was preceded in death by his mother Dee Dee Spencer and is survived by his father Douglas and sister Amy and several aunts and cousins. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. September 8th at Christ Church of the Ascension, 4015 E. Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arizona Arthritis Foundation. Arrangements by Messinger Indian School Mortuary.