How does one write a tribute to a writer? Especially one who is not known for his ability to craft words? I mean me! Not Bruce… Bruce can write and he did so for four decades in the Coachella Valley. If you go The Desert Sun’s website, you will find many articles written about him as he prepared to retire. The accolades bestowed upon Bruce are well-deserved. I think a few even referred to him as a legend. And he was. Is! Or, if not a legend, a desert Icon.
Bruce came to the Coachella Valley the year before I did. Man, was that 40 years ago? Bruce wrote about entertainment in the desert and, after a few years, I was the resident goofball on the morning team at our radio station.
Since Bruce was already there by the time I began to become a tiny blip on the local entertainment scene, I just assumed he’d always been there. And, after 40 years, we might as well just say that.
I actually don’t recall the first time I met him. But everyone in “the business” knew who he was. He was, after all, the Entertainment Editor. That title is intimidating enough. But even his name sounded lofty. Fessier with the French pronunciation. Fess-YAY. Not Fesseer.
Now available in Paperback and for Kindle!
But there was nothing intimidating about him. Any apprehension I may have had about calling him to see if I might be able to get him to write about Bob and Bill’s recent ratings was met with a casual, “Sure. What time can I come over?”
Bruce was a nice guy!
And he was always pleasant to me. As I bounced from job to job, radio to TV to radio to TV to my own production on local cable, Bruce made it a point to always say hello. I mean, here’s a guy who sits down with Frank Sinatra, and Bob Hope and Eric Burdon and… well… Everybody! And the stories about him around the paper are legendary. Raise your hand if you’ve been in a Jacuzzi with Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones. Bruce has.
In all my guises in the desert, I attended many events which were also attended by celebrities; those current or, perhaps, no longer on the A-list. And, of course, Bruce was there. No matter who was in the room, whether we were passing in the halls of a film festival or chit-chatting with people at a silent auction before some charity gala, Bruce would always pause to shake my hand and say hello. We’d ask each other how things were going, exchange brief pleasantries and we’d move on.
That always meant a lot to me. I suppose it’s self-evident that, if Bruce knew everyone in the Coachella Valley, he’d know a former knucklehead disc jockey. But no matter where we crossed paths, he’d never pass without saying hello.
Since I am no longer in the desert, I missed all of the recent events celebrating his career. For that I am sorry. Everyone is writing their tributes about this exemplary journalist and they all knew him better than did I. What I can do is tell you what a good person he was and remains to this day.
I cannot recall the number of times our paths crossed in those four decades, but my most fond, my most precious memory of Bruce is after our friend Marge passed away. She was most dear to me and, judging by the people who came from around the country to attend her service, she was cherished by many.
Available in paperback and for Kindle.
Unfortunately for me, I had a job prospect in another state and I could not change my travel plans. The first person I thought of was Bruce. I emailed him and asked, if I wrote something about Marge, would he read it at the service? Of course, he said yes.
I put fingers to keyboard and quickly dashed off a first-draft to Bruce. A few days after her funeral, Bruce emailed me and said that my words were well-received and “…even got laughs in all the right places.” (I hope he edited…)
I cannot imagine what words I could write to thank him for doing that for me. While others write about the consummate journalist he was, about the legend he is in the Coachella Valley, I want to tell you what a wonderful person he is.
Thanks, Bruce. Congratulations on your retirement and my best to you and Jane in all you do. Enjoy. And thanks, again!
