I'm really sorry to hear about Bruce's passing. We had some great times together during high school and right afterwards. I tried to convince him to come to the 30th reunion, but he wasn't interested. I was hoping he'd be at the 50. RIP Batman
Sorry to learn of Bruce Collins's passing. I remember he had a great sense of humor and a fun loving guy. We always referred to each other as Brother Collins.
In the Spring of our Senior year, Bruce and I were the "delivery boys" for Howard's Men's and Boys clothing store on Chagrin. On Saturdays, we would go to Huge's on Warrensville Center for veal cutlet sandwiches and fishbowls of 3.2 beer. We lowered the average age by 30 years. I have a lot of great memories of the time we spent together.
Bruce was a special friend to me and I regret that we lost touch when I first moved to California...he had a larger than life personality...and dare I mention what a cutie he was?! :) We have lost one of our most beautiful classmates...
SCOTT SIEGLER from our class asked me to post this on this page. Scott had a computer connection problem so he emailed me the following:
Mostly I remember his eyes always moving. We would be talking, but his eyes would be darting to the edges, full of mischief and wariness.
He had that big, perfect smile and a raw, ready laugh; those combined with his physical strength and sudden, quick moves to make him unpredictable and explosively fun. He hinted at a parallel, more secret life than the one he shared with rich white guys, but that was not a world he chose to show me or that I could have entered comfortably. There was nothing spoiled or bratty about him, and he had probably gotten laid more by 1965 than I had by 1995, so he always felt more adult to me than my other friends.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1977; working in the entertainment business I met managers and producers - quick-witted and bristling with energy - who reminded me of Bruce, and I wondered how he was doing and thought how well he might have done in Hollywood.
We did not speak directly about race very much, but this was Cleveland in 1965 and we both knew that life was going to be harder for him than for me. That was unspoken and assumed, and it created an invisible gulf that both separated us and held us together.
In the summer of 1965 I was having an outdoor party at my parents' home on Shaker Blvd, and things started to get out of hand when a carful of thugs drove up and wanted to join the festivities. We were relieved once they left, and the party began to break up. Bruce said good bye and started to leave; he sheepishly returned a minute later and told me that he'd forgotten something. He walked into our garage and retrieved a pistol he'd stashed behind my dad's stack of firewood. I looked at the gun; Bruce looked at me; I looked at Bruce, and in that moment I saw the invisible gulf that separated us.
Edward Torchy Smith
http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-e-collins&pid=173384723&fhid=16109
The above link is Bruce Collin's Obituary.
John Collier
BRUCE WAS UNIQUE!!!!
Dennis Bayer
I'm really sorry to hear about Bruce's passing. We had some great times together during high school and right afterwards. I tried to convince him to come to the 30th reunion, but he wasn't interested. I was hoping he'd be at the 50. RIP Batman
James Winer
He was a good guy. We invited him for dinner one night and my family loved him. Sorry that he is no longer with us.
Lawrence (Ren) Collins
Sorry to learn of Bruce Collins's passing. I remember he had a great sense of humor and a fun loving guy. We always referred to each other as Brother Collins.
Ren Collins
Michael Peterman
In the Spring of our Senior year, Bruce and I were the "delivery boys" for Howard's Men's and Boys clothing store on Chagrin. On Saturdays, we would go to Huge's on Warrensville Center for veal cutlet sandwiches and fishbowls of 3.2 beer. We lowered the average age by 30 years. I have a lot of great memories of the time we spent together.
Rest in Peace!
Michael Peterman
Susie Rawson (Driscoll)
Bruce was a special friend to me and I regret that we lost touch when I first moved to California...he had a larger than life personality...and dare I mention what a cutie he was?! :) We have lost one of our most beautiful classmates...
Larry (Snake) Plisskin
BATMAN,
THE ANIMALS WILL MISS U.
U WERE THE BEST....
SNAKE
Edward Torchy Smith
SCOTT SIEGLER from our class asked me to post this on this page. Scott had a computer connection problem so he emailed me the following:
Mostly I remember his eyes always moving. We would be talking, but his eyes would be darting to the edges, full of mischief and wariness.
=
David Burke
I know the Bat Spotlight will always have you in its focus. Miss you....