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Bruce Harrison Greene
March 16, 1946 ~ January 13, 2022 (age 75) 75 Years Old
North Stonington, CT, formerly of Wethersfield, CT – Bruce Harrison Greene, husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, died peacefully on January 13, 2022, after a courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 75 years old. Born in 1946 in Westerly, RI to Dorothy and Everitte Greene, he was raised in Stonington as the middle of three brothers alongside Ron, of West Yarmouth, MA and Doug, of Del Rapids, SD. Bruce was a star football player in high school and maintained a lifelong affinity for the Stonington – Westerly rivalry game, always faithfully cheering on the Bears. He went on to play football at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he similarly developed a lifelong rooting interest in the rivalry with Wesleyan. These allegiances, along with his fondness for the New York Giants, were a friendly source of banter with anyone that would engage. Bruce graduated from Trinity College in 1968, and added a Master’s Degree in Engineering in 1969. He went on to work for 35 years at Pratt & Whitney as an aeronautical engineer. His work took him around the world, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa, among others. But his work with Fiat in Italy, in particular, sparked a love of Italian culture and la dolce vita. His habit of ordering aglio e olio off menu at any restaurant could spark knowing nods or baffled glances from the wait staff, depending on whether he was at a restaurant that actually served Italian food. In his 50’s, Bruce made the bold choice to return to Trinity College for a second Master’s Degree, in American Studies, so that he could transition to a second career in archaeology. His keen sense of detail and order endeared him to many who devoted their lives to this scholarly pursuit. His ability as both an archivist and a field archaeologist made his years in archaeology not only an adventure, but also one that contributed to our mutual understanding of the past. Moreover, Bruce added to a collection of artifacts started by his grandfather, George O. Murphy of Pawcatuck, CT, which Bruce then meticulously catalogued and later donated to the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT. For all of his accomplishments and natural gifts, his greatest love was for friends and family. Bruce married Elizabeth “Polly” Kepple in 1974. Having endured the gauntlet of her father and four brothers, his love was tested early and often. For 48 years they were constant companions and basked in one another’s mutual affection. Bruce and Polly raised a son, Matthew, of Norwell, MA, on whom they doted, along with Matthew’s wife, Seana. The arrival of his three grandchildren, Maggie, Aidan and Ronan, sparked a sense of spontaneous and unbounded joy, which never diminished over the years. Bruce is also survived by cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends from Wethersfield, Stonington, and all over the world. Any attempt to list them by name would exceed the limits of a daily newspaper or cause blushes by omission. His capacity to give and receive affection from all he met, however, may very well be his greatest gift. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bruce’s life on April 2nd. Calling Hours at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main Street, Westerly, RI, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm will be followed by a private reception for friends and family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wheeler Library, 101 Main St., North Stonington, CT 06359. For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com