I first met Bruce as ateenager going out with his brother Roger. He checked me out for sure as brothers do, he always had a fierce desire to be more independent. thus when we got our home and he was a teenager we said come on out and visit., not knowing the life of his battery . he wanted to go downstreet and away he went,Didn't make it back up the hill to the house but Bruce mever was without friends and Roger worked for the city. he was home when we got there, This was only one of the adventures from our house and our secret until much later years Memories are precious

I met Bruce nearly 40 years ago through the New England Osteogenesis Imperfecta Society where he and my dad became friends.  I was just a teen with OI and Bruce was 10 years my senior.  He was educated, working and trying to get his drivers license and a car.  Achieving normal things for someone that age, but not so normal for someone living with severe OI.  The impact on me to see those successes be normalized by Bruce, at a time when they were far from normal had a huge impact on me.  And me seeing those successes as achievable, at a time when the rest of the world did not, was invaluable.  It had a huge impact on me. I’m not sure if Bruce ever realized it.  I hope he did.

Many years later we were able to reconnect via the magic of Facebook and at an OI national conference.  We shared not only a bone disorder, but a similar quirky sense of humor and perspective on the world.  I enjoyed his commentary on my posts.  We often exchanged messages about birds, cartoons (particularly Looney Tunes) and Ben & Jerry’s.  On his last day with us, we exchanged messages about the serious world topic ofPepe Le Pew.  

I enjoyed the quiet but thoughtful way he moved about the world.  I’ll always remember the smiles he brought to my day via Facebook.  I’ll think of him every time I open a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.  His gifts were innumerable to so many.  Bruce’s gift to me was to show me how to blaze my own trail 40 years ago.   Thank you Bruce, for all of that and so much more.  You will be missed

I remember when my parents brought Bruce home from the hospital.  He was 5 weeks old if I remember correctly.  Both his legs were in traction because they  broken at birth.  My mom couldn't hold him to feed him.  She placed his crib in front of the TV to keep him occupied.  He was a sweet baby.  As kids, we all tried to entertain him and keep him busy.  And he absorbed everything we taught him.  My dad made sure he was always learning something..he devoted his life to Bruce.  My first husband had bought me a parakeet on a trip to Newport with my parents.  When he saw how Bruce loved the bird on the trip home, he asked me if I would mind if he let Bruce keep the bird.  I think that was Bruce's first love of birds. When our stepmother died in a car accident, he was 14..and she had been very protective of him.  I was newly divorced, so I moved in to help out my dad and Bruce in exchange for a home for myself and 3 kids.   I spent a lot of time with Bruce..not just caring for him but spending time with him.  He was not just my little brother.  He was a  friend as well.  I enjoyed his company.  I always looked up to him, though I was 7 years older.  He never complained about his life.  He was always optimistic and looking toward to the future.  I am so glad He and Dee found each other.  She truly made his life complete.  He was, and always will be, my hero.  And he will be missed by me for as long as I live.