Bruce F. Handy

Bruce F. Handy   7/30/1947- 7/29/2024

Bruce, we love you and miss you.

I apologize for any omissions or inaccuracies in this document, but it is as correct and complete as I remember Bruce’s words as he dictated them to me during the last days of his life.

Your friend, Jerome Burke

On the evening of July, 29, 2024, Bruce Francis Handy was faced with three dilemma’s, should he continue his battle against stomach cancer which he was bravely battling- and sometimes winning; for the past three years, must he suffer through another election for president- if you knew him you know who he didn’t want to win;  or face another birthday-July 30- which most of his friends sere too feeble or too demented to remember. 

At 8:10 PM, instead of dealing with these dilemmas, he died.

Bruce was born to loving parents Elmer and Grace (Costa) on July 30,1947. Not only was he their favorite child he was their only child.

His early childhood was unremarkable until his parents enrolled Bruce in Mrs. Fitzsimmons Dance School. Bruce was an instant success. Mastering TAP, and HIP HOP. Bruce also began his singing career, starring in local minstrel shows with Chick and Sissy Marshall, Bruce usually ended the shows with a rendition of Bobby Darin’s “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” Soon after added Sammy Davis, Jr’s “Mr. Bo Jangles” singing and tap dancing his way to ovations and applause. 

As both his parents were golfers, Bruce was destined to become a golfer. He excelled at an early age and Ted Williams learned of the young protégé and played rounds with Bruce when he visited Lakeville to visit his baseball camp and play Poquoy Brook Country Club.

Bruce graduated from Middleboro High School in 1965. He excelled in football, basketball, and golf. He was the starting wingback for the varsity football team as a sophomore, but a knee injury ended his career in football, leaving Bruce with more time to play golf. Many days Bruce’s dad, Elmer. would bring Bruce with Steve Blais, Jim Berry, and Bill Brown to Bristol Country Golf Course on his way to work and pick them up on his way home.

Bruce started winning Golf Tournaments as a high school student- winning the Poquoy  Brook Club Championship in 1965. The continued winning area tournaments including the Taunton City Open a record five times. He qualified to the U. S. Amateur 1978 and 1979. Continuing his collaboration with baseball sluggers he won a charity tournament with Joe DiMaggio in Lake Tahoe in 1979. He shattered the Herring Run Golf Club record in 1987 with a 61- a record that still stands today. He won many other tournaments at golf courses throughout the country. Culminating with a victory at the 2009 Okeeheelee Course Match Play Tournament in Palm Beach, Florida.

Bruce was inducted into the U. S. Army in January of 1968. He was sent to LZ English in Viet Nam in July 1968. Landing medivac flights of wounded soldiers, he spotted “the bowed legs and running style of Mike Garafolo-” a friend and fellow Middleboro High graduate. Mike was Special Forces and off-loading his squad who were caught in an enemy ambush. Bruce was glad to see Mike uninjured but said “I’ll never forget the screams, and blood and smells of his wounded comrades.’  Bruce left the service as a sergeant E-5, quite a feat for a two-year enlistment.

Bruce returned home but soon left to go cross country with friend Don Sena. Classically in a VW Bus Don and Bruce stopped at many ski resorts, working and skiing along the way. Once they arrived in California, they traded the VW for HONDA 350 motorcycles to do an EASY RIDER on the way back to Massachusetts. An X rated movie could be made of the adventures they experienced on the way home.

Once home Bruce completed his studies at Bridgewater State College, earning a bachelor's degree in Sociology. Bruce studied cultures and their inequalities for the rest of his life. At Bridgewater, Bruce met and fell in love with Chris Sorensen. Somehow, they parted before long.

Bruce continued to ski the northeast with Gary Correia and Don Ayotte barely surviving several car accidents on the way back to Middleboro. Contrary to urban legend, Bruce was not present when Ray Cabral’s ski chalet burned down.

Bruce went west again, landing in Las Vegas and the Lake Tahoe, working in the gambling industry, dealing Blackjack, and taking highrollors golfing for the casinos. He enjoyed the high life and learned to drink. The years swept past on fast forward.

Bruce credited his cousin Judy Costa for helping him see the negativity of his alcoholism on himself and on those around him. Through AA, and programs at the VA in Massachusetts and Stand Down in Florida, Bruce beat alcoholism.

Bruce went on to live seventeen years sober- helping and sponsoring others on their journeys to sobriety.

Bruce worked his final years at Okeeheelee Golf Course in Palm Beach, Florida. He was a greeter at the course and loved by the many patrons he met. He added John O’Brien, Bob Najarian, Sal Lanza, and Joe Ricotta to his foursome along with many, many others. Watching Bruce shoot his age on his 68^th birthday was a real treat.

In 2020, Bruce reunited with Chris Sorensen. They resumed their loving relationship, and Bruce spent many happy moments with Chris and her children and grandchildren in Minnesota.

Bruce was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 at the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Hospital. He was provided with the latest in chemotherapy treatment 2022 and early 2023. He found to be “cancer free” in December 2023.

In January 2024, the cancer returned. The VA attempted Immunotherapy but after two infusions realized it was not working. Bruce continued his battle with cancer until July 29, 2024.

He died in the Hospice Center at the VA with Chris and her daughter by his side.

Bruce donated his body to science so a better understanding of his cancer could be learned.

There is an opening in that foursome in the sky of Bruce, Steve, and Bill for anyone interested.