Bruce Lynn Ludwig

Bruce Lynn Ludwig passed away on October 25, 2023. He was born in Lennox, South Dakota to Lloyd A. “Jack” Ludwig and Marguerite (Marge) Thea Ludwig (née Jacobs). His family moved to Burbank, California in the summer before Bruce’s senior year in high school. He graduated from Cal State University and began his career in institutional and fiduciary real estate.

Until his death, he served as Chairman of LUDWIG & Company, a Consultant and Middle East Representative. In 1981, he was one of four founding partners of Westmark Realty Advisors and TCW Realty Advisors. From 1981 through 1995, he was a member of the five-person Westmark Executive Committee, and the Investment and Management Committees. Westmark had a $4.5 billion real estate portfolio under management when it was purchased by CB Richard Ellis in 1995. He served as Vice Chairman, a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Westmark Realty Advisors, a subsidiary of CB Richard Ellis, from 1995 through 1997. In 1997, he formed LUDWIG & Company. Prior to co-founding Westmark/TCW Realty Advisors, he was employed by CB Commercial as a Shopping Center Specialist from 1964 to 1972, when he was appointed Director for Commercial Properties for the Southwest, Southeast and Eastern regions of the U.S. In 1975, he was appointed First Vice President, National Accounts, responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with major retailers and developers throughout the United States.

He served as: Officer, Trustee, and member of the Executive Committee of The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and member of its Governance Committee; Officer and member of the Board of Governors of the Urban Land Foundation; International Council of Shopping Centers Trustee and Director of its Educational Foundation; member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), and the National Realty Committee, where he served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

His true passion was for bringing people together. Whether for business, philanthropy, or in his personal life, Bruce was passionate about connecting people to one another. His days as an Eagle Scout in South Dakota sparked an interest in the natural world and mapping. Out of this, his life’s passion grew to include a deep curiosity for ancient history and cultures, conservation and the environment, especially in Egypt and Kenya. He led countless trips for scores of friends, to Egypt, Kenya, and beyond. His enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion were contagious and unmatched.

It was the thrill of his life to have served as a Trustee for the American University in Cairo, the Trust for African Rock Art, Amboseli Trust for Elephants; and on the Advisory Council for the National Geographic Society, and Boards of the Petra National Trust, Institute of Human Origins, and the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation. He was a proud elected member of the Explorer’s Club, the Royal Geographic Society, the Egyptian Exploration Society of England, and the Oriental Institute.

From 2003 to 2021 Bruce and Carolyn published five books about The Churches of Egypt, The Churches of Egypt, The History and Religious Heritage of Old Cairo and The Child Jesus in Egypt.

Bruce’s happiest place in his last few years was in McCall Idaho, where he and a few friends would gather for social hour on the greens to watch the sunset.

He is survived by Carolyn, his wife of more than sixty years, his daughters Pamela Hearn (Craig) of Pasadena, California, and Charla Thompson (Ryan) of Newcastle, Washington, grandchildren Henry and Margaret Thompson, and his brother Don Ludwig (Debbie) of Burbank, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (www.elephanttrust.org) or the American Research Center in Egypt (www.aeraweb.org).

Aera mailing address 26 Lincoln St.

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Brighton, MA 02135