I always looked up to Bruce, Chuck, as we called him back then. I was quite young when he came to visit  the Cameron's in Ashland,  Oregon.  He was going to Columbia University and had attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  I very much admired him.  I will miss his soft elegant demeanor and graceful intellect.

From niece Sharon:

Jimmy and I have so many memories of Uncle Chuck! I remember at our  house next to Grand ma  and Grandpa Ross. He would 
 talk to me and Jimmy all the time, tell us funny jokes and would swing us around in the back yard. I have a specific memory,
he gave me two beautiful poetry books  by Rob Mc Kuen that i still have, I Particularly love that he wrote in it and signed uncle Chuck.
Also him being with us at Granddad Aulds. He Helped Jimmy shoot the BB gun in the basement that Grand dad Auld bought for Jiimmy.
As we got older he would talk to me about subjects I had in school and encourage me about math and science, slide rulers, the periodic table
etc. I truly looked up to him and thought he was really cool.

From Bonnie Escherd,

Stephen was very fond of Bruce. When my husband worked at the opera, he would offer Bruce tickets when Bruce was stronger and Bruce would help out with holiday installs.

He was also a fan of Aaron Copeland's music. 

We used to have fun discussions about opera, SF Opera vs. the Met. And singers. My favorite, who trained with us and left for Europe and New York, Bruce said, oh, he will never return. Way too fine a singer. I argued over a glass of champagne at the Sf opera bar with him one night. As it turned out, he was completely correct:-/ We could no longer afford that quality!

From Ron Gallagher,

He worked at Blume in the old days as a geophysicist in the Earth Sciences group along with Rodger Skjei, Fred Conwell and Andy Cunningham.  This was when we were in the Palace Hotel.  Bruce came to several of our old-timer lunches.  I’ve attached a picture from a 2017 get-together (he is in the red shirt standing next to Leo Conscente who was visiting town).  This was also Joe Nicoletti’s last attendance.
 
The late Blume old-timer, Henry (Hank) Larsen, was the contractor when Bruce and Martha Auld remodeled their home in Tiburon.  (I helped Bruce meet Martha.)  Bruce and Hank were able to reconnect at one of our lunches.  Bruce was a very good sprinter in high school and went to Columbia on a track scholarship.  When he joined, he was a great addition to the Blume Earth Sciences staff.  I know I enjoyed working with him and very much respected his judgement and advice.

From Eliot Mason,

Bruce was a major icon in my life.  One little example: As a little boy I saw him court Martha, meeting us at the airport when we returned as an extended family from the Christmas trip to Sun Valley.  He was carrying flowers to the gate and fairly whisked her away. I thought it was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen!

My wife Julia tells me it was me re-enacting the scene and meeting her at the airport gate with roses that clinched it.  So thank you Bruce!  Although you are not with us, you live on in us.

From Erika Eisley:

Ashley and Allie,

I am so very sorry to hear of your father's passing. He was a lovely, kind man and we're honored to have called him our next door neighbor and friend.

We loved visiting him on a weekly basis, bringing him freshly baked treats (brownies, cupcakes, cookies!) that the kids were eager to share. He was so generous, always allowing the kids to pick a few lemons from his bush to make lemonade for the many Palmer Court lemonade stands held on the bike path.  

One of my favorite memories with your Dad was on a beautiful, sunny winter day. We sat on his front steps and Bruce came outside to peel countless persimmons, teaching our kids the art of finding the perfectly ripe fruit. He sat for an hour and hand peeled several with a kitchen knife, offering frequent tastes and teaching our kids about all of the different treats you could make with permissions. He let the kids use the big fruit picker tool --- it was a happy, joyful day for all.

I'm grateful to have met you both and to know your Father. Bruce's memory will live on in the hearts of Palmer court forever.

If you are planning any services, please let me know as I'd love to be there to offer support and a hug. I'm sure many others on Palmer Court feel the same. But I also respect completely if you'd prefer to keep services or arrangements strictly to family. 

If there is anything you need over the coming weeks, please don't hesitate to let me know. We are right next door and can come over anytime. 

❤️

From The Bells:

Bruce built and repaired the mailboxes. He shared persimmons with us, and was a steadfast presence on Palmer. 

When he and Martha remodeled #7, all that was left after the initial tear down were two bedrooms and the kitchen sink with a counter.  In the early morning air, Martha used to come out on the subfloor wearing her housecoat to fix coffee. Bruce did a good deal of the construction himself. 

When the school district superintendent secretary set up the database without a field for homeroom, Bruce said "Well, that won't work!".  Through his contacts of fathers in Indian Princesses, he got the database straightened out. 

They were rational, intelligent, caring neighbors who will be missed.

Bruce was the best "Lake Dad", with his quick humor and practical approach to everything.  I have fond memories of the whiff of tobacco floating up to the top of the house boat and his endless patience with a rowdy group of young women...

He will be missed, but remembered with great affection.

All our love,
Lauren Vaillencourt and family

OBITUARY

Bruce Charles Auld

February 13, 1943 – June 4, 2025

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