Lorraine “Vickie” Bruce
Vickie Bruce passed away May 10, 2016 in New York City surrounded by her family.
She was born, June 6, 1945, in San Francisco, CA, the third of three daughters born to Anthony and Harriett Barbaro. Vickie was raised in San Francisco and Santa Barbara, CA.
After attending Dolores School and Bishop Garcia Diego High School, she graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a BA in Education and from Nova Southeastern University with a MA in Computer Technology. She moved to New Jersey in 1989.
Vickie was a gifted educator and touched the lives of many students between kindergarten and eighth grade. Students were uniquely impacted by her innovative interest in computer education. As part of the very first use of computers in the classroom, Vickie received “Teacher of the Year” recognition for innovation in high-level thinking skills using the computer. She taught in California (Goleta Union and Ventura School Districts), Maryland and New Jersey before her retirement in 2010.
Vickie attained the designation of a Mentor Teacher while also performing as a Master Supervisor of Student Teachers and Pre-Professionals for UCSB.
As an active member of her professional teachers associations, Vickie often attended conventions to advance education nationwide and encouraged teacher involvement in their profession. She was always an advocate of human caring. “If everyone cares and honestly wants to honor and understand the other person’s needs and concerns…everyone wins. I love to laugh whether with someone else or at myself. Just have fun and care.” She loved teaching!
Vickie had a strong love of adventure and travel. As a young teacher she spent summers in Hawaii as a camp counselor and enjoyed many family camping outings. She traveled Europe with her husband, first by backpack as newlyweds, then often in retirement. She loved to be by the water either kayaking, on a beach or just cruising. She was often between west and east coasts, visiting her daughter and grandchildren in San Diego or taking frequent trips into New York City to visit her youngest daughter.
Surviving are her beloved husband of 43 years, Michael Bruce; devoted daughters, Kristi Florence and her husband Dave, and Kari Bruce and her fiancé Kevin Parvaresh; loving grandchildren, Jakob and Madison Florence; along with her extended family and numerous friends.
A Mass of Celebration will be offered on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 2:00pm at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93111.
In lieu of flowers, a remembrance donation can be made to One Heart For Haiti (“Giving the Gift of Hope through Education”), 54 Barbara Street, Newark, NJ 07105.