Bruce Patterson
Uncasville — Bruce Albert Patterson, 86, of Uncasville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London. He was born April 9, 1937 in Dunkirk, N.Y., son of the late John Kern Patterson III and Violet May (O’Neill) Patterson.
Bruce was a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. He retired as a commander in the physics department. He then went on to get a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Connecticut. That led him to become an APRN. Bruce was proud to be a Coastie. He went on to teach physics at the Academy for 22 years. He was named Officer of the Year in 1977. His second career was as a family nurse practitioner, which he retired from at age 82. His hobbies were keeping his families’ fleet of Volkswagens running, rehabbing countless houses with his children and friends, and long-distance running. He completed the Boston Marathon in 1978. He spent many summers at cabins in Pachaug and Lake Alexander and loved hanging out with his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Bruce was married to Joal Patterson for 37 wonderful years. He survived her by one day. Bruce is survived by his children: Denise Manguse, Englewood, Fla., Dawn Patterson, Quaker Hill, Daniel Patterson, Davie, Fla.; stepchildren, Bob Paddon, Elizabeth Ouellette and Faith Paddon Silverman; grandchildren: Lindsay Story, Lukas Ouellette, Jacob Ouellette, Joshua Nixie, Brianna
Nixie and Deanna Cotto; and several great-grandchildren, including Cheila Concepcion-Perez. He also leaves behind his brothers, Theodore (Sally) of Fredonia, N.Y., Terry (Mary) of Plympton, Mass., Richard (Judith) of Charlestown, R.I., and Robert (Patricia) of Dunkirk, N.Y. Bruce was predeceased by his wife Joal Mary (Friese) (Paddon) Patterson, Genevieve A. (Fleury) Macdougall Patterson; and his daughter Debra L. Patterson Kingsbury.
A calling hour will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Westfield Congregational Church, immediately followed by a Memorial Service in the church. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Plainfield. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the
Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation https://tbbcf.org/ donate/. tillinghastfh.com.