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Bruce Busby

Bruce Busby, 88, of Vero Beach, Florida, and Madison passed away on July 17, 2024, after a brief illness. A beloved family member and friend, he will be greatly missed. Born on Oct. 11, 1935, Bruce was raised in Garden City, New York, by his parents, Jean and Alfred Busby.

From early childhood, Bruce was an optimistic seeker of fun and friendship. His love of a good party blossomed when he was five and sang, Swinging on a Star, perched atop a piano played by his mother for a houseful of friends. Bruce and his two older brothers became captivated by the game of golf as youngsters and spent endless hours honing their games. He won his first club championship at age 15 and never forgot the raucous party thrown in his honor.

After graduating from Hobart College in 1960 with a B.A. in economics, Bruce was drafted into U.S. Army service at Fort Benning in Georgia. His golf prowess landed him on the All-Army Golf Team, which competed against military branches throughout the Southeast and also prompted many invitations to complete foursomes with Generals. Upon arriving by helicopter to play a course, Bruce recalled the Generals were picked up in a polished car and he, due to his low rank, rode an empty army bus to the first hole. Bruce’s golf skills transferred seamlessly to his training in rifle marksmanship. He quickly became a crack shot with the Browning Automatic Rifle, winning army-wide competitions by nailing bullseyes from 300-500 yards away.

In 1962, Bruce joined Johns Manville as a Sales Executive serving territories throughout New England. He discovered a passion for selling construction materials, and many of his clients became fast friends. In 1966, Bruce married his great love, Sandy Tuthill, and they moved into their first apartment in Manhattan. After a short stint in advertising, which he realized wasn’t his cup of tea, Bruce pivoted to industrial sales with the F. Hallock Company in Derby. As the top salesman, he craved more challenge, and at age forty, he and a colleague launched Busby Fallon Tool Sales Company, Inc. Until his retirement in 1998, Bruce worked joyfully and tirelessly building a thriving business that distributed sophisticated, precision industrial tooling to major manufacturing companies throughout New England. Among his proud achievements were their two largest accounts with Sikorsky Aircraft and General Dynamics Electric Boat, a leading manufacturer of naval submarines.

In 1967, Bruce and Sandy built a home in Madison, where they raised their daughters Kelley and Lisa. Bruce continued to embrace golf both as a sport and a blueprint for living a life of focus and integrity. He revered the honor system inherent to the game and dedicated himself to constant improvement, maintaining a 1-3 handicap for three decades. At his peak, he was a competitive scratch golfer. Bruce won eight club championships and held the course record at Quaker Hill Country Club for 34 years. With friends and family, he played many of the world’s legendary golf courses; among his favorites were the rugged, walking-only courses in Scotland and New Zealand. Bruce first shot his age at 71 and continued to do so until he turned 86 and could no longer walk 18 holes.

Outside of his beloved family and golf, Bruce threw himself into tennis, woodworking, sailing, and in his 70s, cycling. He made dozens of pieces of intricately designed furniture, cabinetry, an expansive room addition, and even a pool house at age 78. When asked to create a particular item, he would say, “Show me a photo, and I’ll see if I can do it.” At 74, he completed a solo century ride in Florida “to see what it was like.” By age 88, he had logged 80,000 miles exploring roads in New England and Florida.

In early retirement, Bruce reveled in rising at dawn to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, hopping on his bike to ride 30-40 miles, or descending into his workshop and later reemerging covered in sawdust with a sparkle in his eye. In recent years, Bruce dedicated time each day to listening to piano music, trying to play pieces by ear, and completing five crossword puzzles daily. It may be an understatement to say Bruce lived exuberantly and loved deeply. He often said his wife Sandy was his best friend and “the prettiest one in any room.” He was inspired by people who did good things in the world. He never shied away from a glass of wine at the end of the day and enjoyed it most when he was overlooking his beautiful backyard or Long Island Sound, surrounded by family and friends.

Bruce leaves behind his wife Sandy; daughters, Kelley Busby (Erik Tiemens) and Lisa Busby (Hovey Clark); and his three grandchildren, Celia, Sophia and Hovey Jr. He is survived by his brother Al Busby and wife Barbara; sister-in-law Valerie; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Bob Busby.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Connecticut Hospice (www.hospice.com/donate) in Bruce’s memory. This organization took beautiful care of Bruce and his entire family in his final days, and his wife and daughters are forever grateful.

Rest in peace, Bruce/Dad/Pop. You were the brightest light who meant the world to endless circles of admirers. You played your last hole exactly how you wanted it. We will love you forever.