Bruce W. Fletcher passed away on 29 January 2025, with his wife, two family members, and loving caregiver at his side. He had complications from dementia. He was 90.
Bruce was born at home on Rutland Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, on 5 August 1934, to Ruth Fletcher (née Turner) and James Fletcher. He was the second of seven children. His father was a chef and moved the family wherever his work took him, so Bruce attended elementary school in Massachusetts and high school all over the east coast of Florida, where the family eventually settled. Bruce went on to study Political Science at Florida State University, and starred on the Debate Team.
Bruce started his work career at the age of eight, feeding a neighbor’s chickens and went on to sell newspapers via route or on a street corner, through his grade school years. Bruce’s college summers were spent in Ohio, working variously in a factory, on a ferry, and on a “bumboat,” which is like a floating convenience shop. It was in Ohio that he met his first wife, Ruth Lemmon, who was attending Hiram College. They married in 1956 and in 1957 celebrated not only the awarding of Bruce’s master’s degree but the birth of their first child, Jeannie. Five more children were to follow from this union.
Bruce accepted a position at the National Security Agency and was sent to language school to learn Arabic. He later studied cryptanalysis and programming, and became proficient in these as well. His expertise led him to multi-year assignments outside Maryland: to Cyprus, England (twice), the Middle East (on a detachment to the DOA), and Princeton, New Jersey. He was awarded the Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his service in the Middle East. Bruce had a strong work ethic and rarely took time off. Even when he was posted overseas he felt he was “on the job” 24/7 as a representative of his nation.
After Bruce and Ruth parted, he married fellow Analyst Lynne Larkin, and eventually a seventh child arrived.
Outside of work he encouraged the children in all their pursuits, and often took part in them, thus immersing himself in activities ranging from violin-making and musical theater to computer games and Botball. Bruce excelled at bridge and was a rated chess player. His biggest thrill was drawing to Hugh Alexander (two-time chess Grand Master and a Bletchley Park great).
Following retirement, Bruce threw himself into genealogy and tracked his family online and physically at numerous libraries and record centers in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Eventually two strokes and creeping dementia forced Bruce to settle into a quieter lifestyle and he was able to stay at home until his passing, thanks to his loving live-in Caregivers: Shanae, Tjeripo, Kadi, and Jaime.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lynne Larkin; his children: Jeannie Bates, Judy Fletcher (Joe), Tim Fletcher, Dan Fletcher (Michelle), Ray Fletcher (Jose Campos), and Michael Fletcher-Larkin (Kayla); ten grandchildren: Stephen Maney (Laura), Jenn Pineau, Richard Bates (Aileen Murray), Heather Cronin (Bill), Chris Fletcher, Alicia Cardwell (Grant), Jillian Einstein (Andrew), Andrew Fletcher, Haley Fletcher, and Bruce Fletcher-Larkin; 14 great-grandchildren: Eloise Pineau, Anita Cronin, Lucas Pineau, Reid Fletcher, Jacob Einstein, Carver Cronin, Stone Cardwell, Ian Maney, Brier Cronin, Colton Einstein, Story Cardwell, Dahlia Cronin, Harlan Einstein, and Stetson Cardwell. He is also survived by his brothers, Robin Fletcher and Dana Fletcher, and sister, Audrey Philips, and by many cousins and other relatives. He was predeceased by his parents; his former wife, Ruth Fletcher-Ferrill; a son, Theodore; and his brothers, David, Richard, and Mark.
A Celebration of Life for Bruce was held on 13 March 2025 from 2:00-5:00, at the Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Drive, Bowie, MD.