Edina High School Alumni Archive
In Memory of Bob Bruss

A memorial service was held for Bob Bruss on October 3, 2007. The following are notes from the service.

The memorial service for Bob Bruss was held on Wednesday, October 3, 2007---exactly one week after his death---in a small chapel in his hometown of Burlingame, California.  (Burlingame is a beautiful old suburban community about 30 miles south of San Francisco).  A pastor from a local church, Dr. Mark Mitchell, conducted the Christian service.  He and the young daughter of one of Bob’s neighbors provided biblical readings at the beginning and end of the 60-minute service.

However, those of us in attendance consumed most of the time with memories and tales of Bob, led by Brad Imman, his publisher (Imman Press).  Over and over again we heard references to his exceptional character, kindness, discipline, conscientiousness, impeccable dress (blue sport coat, striped tie, blue button-down shirt), occasional stubbornness, sometimes corny ways, incredible capacity for work, drive to do it right, thriftiness----and so much more about the private, soft-spoken, understated demeanor of a true gentleman who not only achieved professional fame but also, ever so quietly, made highly significant contributions to everything he touched along the way.

For example---

He rebuilt the 50 year-old Real Estate Editors Association (REEA) so that it will now last at least another 50.

When he spoke or was even seen at real estate events throughout the country, he was surrounded by at least 30 real estate “groupies” who would badger him with questions for hours.  Bob gave them answers with kindness, never impatience.

Every year he was asked by an association of California real estate lawyers to speak to each of their 13 chapters throughout the state.  Bob did so, year after year.

He loved to teach---and many of the 100 attendees expressed their gratitude for the sage advice he gave so freely----advice that helped them build, through real estate, everything from comfortable retirements to substantial businesses.

He was asked by a neighbor to help restore an old historical building in Burlingame, The Gatehouse.  He paid to have it totally repainted twice over 15 years.  Also, without being asked, Bob could be seen maintaining the surrounding landscape and, at Christmas time, high on ladder decorating the place with big red bows, lights and greens.

From my personal view, I was often concerned that Bob had no family, no living relatives----how lonely it must be for him.  But during the service I realized he had generously involved himself in many families: his neighborhood, his real estate associates and associations, his groupies, his millions of readers (he was syndicated in over 300 newspapers), his newsletter subscribers and--- perhaps most of all---- his beloved Edina High School and all the folks who have participated in the alumni and educational fund activities.  I spoke to the congregation about how much the school meant to him and how much of himself he gave to it.  I sensed many were surprised to learn about this part of Bob’s life, just as I was surprised to learn for the first time of his many other good works.

But all were aware of his fondness for his Town Cars, those lumbering Lincolns, for a good lunch at a fine restaurant, accented with two glasses of very decent wine and a gooey dessert, and, finally, his fondness for privacy.  It was told that when Bob went to the hospital for last time, no single room was available.  So he climbed back into his car, returned home… and died there, quietly.  God bless you, Bob.

Dave Woodhead
Edina Class of ‘59
October 5, 2007