Meet Bruce

Bruce

Husband and Caregiver

Moffitt Volunteer

“She had a most wonderful personality. As we say, she drew people to her like bees to honey.”

It was that magnetism, combined with what Bruce calls the “Moffitt spirit” that has inspired him to give Moffitt Cancer Center the most precious gift of all: his time and effort. Bruce has logged nearly 2,000 hours volunteering. All in honor of his beloved wife, Loyce.

Bruce remembers Loyce with a smile. She is the love of his life. “And I would do it all over the same again,” he says.

When Loyce was first diagnosed with melanoma in the 1970s, she was told to get her affairs in order. “Well, she outlived that by 34 years,” Bruce proudly shares. 

When she was later diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 and again in 2000 she didn’t let it slow her down. She was “a valiant fighter” says Bruce. “Always adjusted to all of the things that happened in her life.  And just handled it very well.”

Complications from a fall brought Loyce to, Moffitt. 

“When we walked in the door, there was a warm greeting that you don’t necessarily see at other cancer centers. And it follows throughout the organization,” Bruce recalls. “I call it the Moffitt spirit.”

It was that spirit that moved Loyce to encourage Bruce to give back after she passed and he agreed.

“It became very apparent quickly, that my calling was to help others.   And I find that being part of Moffitt, to me, is one of the best ways that I can do that.”

Today, Bruce is a proud Moffitt volunteer, a Patient and Family Advisor, and chairman of the Moffitt Foundation Legacy of Life Society.

More importantly, his devotion to helping others has become a preservation of Loyce’s legacy and a testament to their consummate love story. 

“I have met the goal that we set, just before she passed away. And I know she's smiling up there.”