Bruce MacDonald

New London — Bruce T. MacDonald, an optimistic and adventurous man who was as dedicated to his community as he was to his family, died Wednesday, June 1, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. He was 78.

He was a longtime news reporter for both radio stations and newspapers before switching careers to be a public and media relations practitioner for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. He was dedicated to bettering the community and was especially interested in causes that improved the lives of those who were most disadvantaged.

He was devoted to his daughter, Cara Brennan of Middletown; and a doting husband to his wife of nearly 36 years, Gail Braccidiferro, whom he met when the two were reporters at The Day paper. He was known for his sunny personality; his corny jokes; his eagerness to tackle new adventures; his great intellect; his love of reading, travel and all things aviation; his Woody Woodpecker impression; and for the many causes he championed throughout his life. He especially loved his and Gail’s getaway cottage on Daniels Pond in Glover, Vt.

Bruce was born in Westerly, R.I., to parents, Lemuel and Margaret MacDonald, who predeceased him. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in both Vicenza, Italy, and Uijeongbu, South Korea. After serving in the Army, he returned to Westerly, and earned an associate’s degree from Johnson & Wales College in Providence. He then began a long career as a newsman, working at radio stations WERI in Westerly, WICH in Norwich, and WDRC in Hartford, and then newspapers The Norwich Bulletin, Groton News, The Day and

USA Today. Bruce also worked on the World Wise Schools project for the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., when he and his family lived in Arlington, Va., in the early 1990s. When they returned to Connecticut, he went to work for the Mashantucket Pequots, serving as editor of the Pequot Times, then later in media relations for the tribe.

Through the years, he served on numerous community boards. He was a longtime president of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and also served on the boards of the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the Haitian Health Foundation and Haitian Ministries of the Norwich Diocese. He was a former moderator of the Pawcatuck Fire District. He also was a dedicated supporter of the Democratic Party, serving on the town committee in Stonington while a Pawcatuck resident, and then on the New London Democratic Town Committee after moving to the city in 2017.

Bruce loved his adopted home city of New London, and enjoyed serving it in many ways. He volunteered at the Homeless Hospitality Center, was a member of the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation board and represented the city on the Eastern Connecticut Tourism Board. For numerous years, he helped oversee and organize the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival. He was especially dedicated to the New London Rotary, finding a like-minded community of dedicated public servants there.

Besides his daughter and his wife, Bruce is survived by his son-in-law Jim Brennan; his brother John of Westerly; his sisters-in-law, Diane (David) Evans of Peacham, Vt.; Victoria (Richard) Littell of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Nancy MacDonald of Charlestown, R.I.; and his nieces, Amber MacDonald of Boston, Emily MacDonald of Washington, D.C., Shannon Jordan of Hanover, Mass., and Brianna MacDonald of Dorchester, Mass. He was predeceased by a brother, Thomas, of Charlestown, R.I.

Byles Memorial Home, New London, is assisting the family. There are no calling hours. A graveside service for family and close friends is planned at Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London. A Celebration of Life will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at the New London Rotary Pavilion, Ocean Beach Park, New London, to which all of Bruce’s many family, friends and colleagues are invited.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Haitian Health Foundation, 97 Sherman St., Norwich, CT 06360 or the New London Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 654, New London, CT 06320. Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guestbook, share a memory and read a complete obituary.