Bruce paseed away January 25, 2009. He is survived by his wife Joan, and two daughters. A career army officer, Bruce was a 1961 graduate of West Point.
It is with great regret and sorrow that we must inform you of the death of our classmate, Bruce Holmberg, on January 26, 2009 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma. Bruce is survived by his wife, Joan, their daughters, Anne Lauritzen and Leigh Rand, and four grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at 1000 hrs on Friday, 6 February 2009 at the West Point Cemetery. A luncheon followed at the Thayer Hotel.
Bruce graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1961 (order of merit 26 of 534) and was commissioned in the Artillery. He earned his jump wings and Ranger Tab at Ft. Benning, GA, and, upon completion of the Artillery Officers Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft, Bragg, NC. Bruce served in Vietnam in 1966-67 and attended the Artillery Advanced course at Ft. Sill in 1967. After a three year tour in the Tactical Department at West Point, Bruce received his MBA at Farleigh Dickenson University in 1971. In addition to serving in several Field Artillery command positions in Korea and Europe, he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and Army War College. In 1983 Bruce was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and retired in 1984. His military awards include the following: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Bronze Star with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 1351 Sweet Pea Path, Crownsville, MD 21032-2020.
After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in May of 2000, Bruce Holmberg retired from his job at an engineering firm, determined to live life to its fullest. Three and a half years later, he's doing just that-beyond his or his doctor's first expectations and thanks to the help and hope he found through the MMRF. When Bruce first retired, he thought he would spend his days skiing and fly-fishing. He hasn't forgotten his love of the great outdoors, he has found a new passion to occupy his days. Bruce has what he describes as a "new full-time job." He volunteers for the MMRF and spends months recruiting myeloma patients to go to Washington and tell their stories to Congress on Blood Cancer Advocacy Day. It's a job that takes detailed organization, planning, and great interpersonal skill. "We start in December and work straight through the summer, recruiting advocates from all over the country and making sure they're prepared to meet with their Senators and Congressmen." Before sending the advocates to Capitol Hill, Bruce gives them a "layman's lesson on how to lobby" and encourages them to tell their personal stories, while asking for congressional support. In addition to his work with Advocacy Day, he has become an MMRF "myeloma mentor". He presents his story to pharmaceutical companies, physician organizations and support groups to spread the information and hope that has brought him out of retirement'. Thank you Bruce for being such a valuable MMRF volunteer.
Obituaries:
HOLMBERG Col. Bruce P. Holmberg USA (Ret.) Passed away on January 26, 2009. Born in 1939 in St. Paul MN, he was the son of the late Donald and Betty Holmberg. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1961 and proudly served his country until retirement in 1984 when he and his family made their home in Rockville, MD. He was a devoted volunteer for the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Research Foundation, the Ski Liberty Ski Patrol, where he served as director, and the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program at Walter Reed Army Hospital. His loving family includes his wife, Joan D. Holmberg; his daughter, Anne Lauritzen, her husband Brian and children Daniel and Kristen; daughter, Leigh Rand, her husband David and children Matthew and Allie. He is also survived by his devoted sister and brother, Kristen Behan of Washington and Donald Holmberg, Jr. of Texas. Services and burial will take place at West Point, NY on Friday, February 6 at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Phil Davidson (1960)
Bruce P. Holmberg"Bruce"
Company C-1
20 Feb 1939 - 26 Jan 2009
Place of Death: Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD
Interment: TBA
It is with great regret and sorrow that we must inform you of the death of our classmate, Bruce Holmberg, on January 26, 2009 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma. Bruce is survived by his wife, Joan, their daughters, Anne Lauritzen and Leigh Rand, and four grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at 1000 hrs on Friday, 6 February 2009 at the West Point Cemetery. A luncheon followed at the Thayer Hotel.
Bruce graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1961 (order of merit 26 of 534) and was commissioned in the Artillery. He earned his jump wings and Ranger Tab at Ft. Benning, GA, and, upon completion of the Artillery Officers Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft, Bragg, NC. Bruce served in Vietnam in 1966-67 and attended the Artillery Advanced course at Ft. Sill in 1967. After a three year tour in the Tactical Department at West Point, Bruce received his MBA at Farleigh Dickenson University in 1971. In addition to serving in several Field Artillery command positions in Korea and Europe, he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and Army War College. In 1983 Bruce was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and retired in 1984. His military awards include the following: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Bronze Star with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 1351 Sweet Pea Path, Crownsville, MD 21032-2020.
Well done, Bruce. Be thou at peace.
Phil Davidson (1960)
Obituaries:
HOLMBERG Col. Bruce P. Holmberg USA (Ret.) Passed away on January 26, 2009. Born in 1939 in St. Paul MN, he was the son of the late Donald and Betty Holmberg. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1961 and proudly served his country until retirement in 1984 when he and his family made their home in Rockville, MD. He was a devoted volunteer for the Multiple Myeloma Cancer Research Foundation, the Ski Liberty Ski Patrol, where he served as director, and the Wounded Warrior Mentor Program at Walter Reed Army Hospital. His loving family includes his wife, Joan D. Holmberg; his daughter, Anne Lauritzen, her husband Brian and children Daniel and Kristen; daughter, Leigh Rand, her husband David and children Matthew and Allie. He is also survived by his devoted sister and brother, Kristen Behan of Washington and Donald Holmberg, Jr. of Texas. Services and burial will take place at West Point, NY on Friday, February 6 at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.
Published in The Washington Post on 1/30/2009