Bruce Royer

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September 26, 2020

In 2015, I was hired by Bruce to work in Internal Audit at U-Haul. I didn't know Bruce long, nor did I work with him for very long, but even in the short amount of time I did, I knew Bruce was an amazing, kind, loving, family man! Bruce was always... more

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September 8, 2020

I feel extremely fortunate to have started my career at U-Haul working for Bruce in Internal Audit. Having no prior U-Haul experience, Bruce went above and beyond to make me feel a part of the team and U-Haul family from day one. Bruce always had time... more

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September 7, 2020 · via iPhone

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September 7, 2020 · via iPhone

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September 7, 2020 · via iPhone

I grew up with the Royer family in Herscher, IL, where Bruce’s dad was our pastor, and his sister, Lisa, one of my dearest friends. Bruce had a dazzling smile and could raise one eyebrow as a form of nonverbal communication. I remember Herscher Labor... more

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September 7, 2020 · via iPhone

My heart hurts for all of you in the sudden loss of Bruce. I knew him growing up in Herscher, Illinois. his dad was our pastor. One of my favorite memories is of Bruce “demonstrating” an alternative use for the large, billowing sleeves of our choir... more

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September 5, 2020 · via iPhone

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September 5, 2020 · via iPhone

Love you dad. Missing you every day, but know you are here with us all at the same time.

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September 4, 2020 · via iPhone

I will miss you my very dear friend. I’ll see you on the other side.

As you used to call me,

Tommy T

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September 3, 2020

I had the pleasure of working with Bruce only a few times. He was poised, warm and genuine. It was apparent he and his team were a tight-knit group and they looked to him as their strong leader. My heart goes out to Renee, his kids and his team. I am... more

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September 2, 2020 · via iPhone

From Sam Briggs:

Bruce was a very pleasant, good looking, intelligent man It was a true pleasure to know and work with him. He and Renee were a great team!
In numerous convesations with Tonya I learned you are a close-knit, hard working, & loving... more

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September 1, 2020 · via iPhone

I struggle to put into words what an incredible guy Bruce was. He helped make the Royer’s feel like my second family, as he was always so welcoming and generous. He was the perfect example of what a father should be. Kind, supportive, and the best... more

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September 1, 2020

Bruce hired me over 10 years ago. Of all the places and positions I've been in, Bruce is still the gold standard for a boss.

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August 31, 2020

Bruce and all the Royer family are truly compassionate people. The entire Royer family is ready to help anytime, any situation internal and external customers, it does not matter. Bruce, was a true leader as it is mentioned by so many and such a positive... more

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August 31, 2020

I am so grateful to have gotten the honor of meeting Bruce nearly 20 years ago and being a part of his team for about half that time. His friendly down to earth nature and calmness in the storm were such important qualities in leading Marketing IT to... more

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August 31, 2020

Bruce was always so generous when Nels and I were in Phoenix. He would offer airport pickup, a place to stay, and a family get together. He always had a project in the works from a remodeled room to a new building. I remember wondering if he really... more

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August 31, 2020

My heartfelt sympathy for the Royer family. Bruce was one of the first “corporate people” I met at my center soon after arriving in Phx over 20 years ago. I thought at the time, Wow, this is corporate. He’s product knowledge and professional... more

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August 31, 2020

Royer family, I am so sorry for your loss. I never had the opportunity to work directly with Bruce, but saw him often. He always had a smile on his face and a very calming presence. I remember seeing him at one of the anniversary gatherings, for Kyle I... more

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August 31, 2020

Bruce hired me almost 20 years ago, and I had the pleasure of working for him for many of those years. He was always a great leader - calm, optimistic, thoughtful, caring. He put people first and always made time to talk, whether it was work related or... more

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August 31, 2020

Let me preface this by saying, gosh, how can you not cry as you are typing a message for an amazing man like Bruce? So I apologize in advance for any typos since I am crying with blurry tear-vision as I type this, and I was sobbing the day I heard, and I... moreLet me preface this by saying, gosh, how can you not cry as you are typing a message for an amazing man like Bruce? So I apologize in advance for any typos since I am crying with blurry tear-vision as I type this, and I was sobbing the day I heard, and I was sobbing as I wrote an email to dear Renee when I heard.
...Bruce was not only an exemplary leader at U-Haul, but was also a pillar role model with a huge heart to genuinely want to see people succeed around him. I worked closely with both Bruce and Renee for a few years when I was their Recruiter. We just clicked and understood each other and had respect for each other, and shared a few laughs. Bruce always trusted my judgement on a candidate that maybe didn't look so great on paper, but I'd say - "Trust me, Bruce, you gotta meet this one." - and he'd say, "Then you know my schedule, let's do it." - and sure enough, he'd like them a lot, complimented my judgement call, and always thanked me wholeheartedly for understanding the right fit to his team. He made every encounter you had with him a good one, you walked away feeling positive. And that's what matters in life, right - how you make people feel after an encounter with them. He always had positive vibes of a calm disposition, and gosh he was so dang intelligent. ....The thing that probably stands out to me the most in my memories of Bruce is the week that I returned to work after my late husband Dale had died after a long health battle. Bruce was 1 of 4 people that came downstairs out of his way to visit me when he heard I was back in my office and he gave me a big 'ol bear hug and said I could come to him for anything I needed and he wanted to make sure I was okay. Bruce had no idea how much I appreciated that fatherly concern since my dad had been gone passed for years too. ......Bruce - you will be greatly missed by myself and many as you can feel in these beautiful messages from everyone, and I know that you'll be looking down watching over your gorgeous family, friends and company that held you so close to heart. Renee - as I said before to you, I am here for you as I know this pain all too well, and I love you. To Kyle, Chasan and Tonya - I am so sorry for the loss, just remember the ones we love are never truly gone. May God bless you all with peace in your hearts during this time. less

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August 31, 2020

My sincere sympathies to Bruce's family. I had the pleasure of meeting with Bruce only a couple of times but could tell immediately that he was a kind and knowledgeable individual who had an interest in doing things the right way. I wish that I could... more

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August 31, 2020

To the Royer family, I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Royer was one amazing person, that had a great impact on my life. He was always there to listen, and he was so considerate and understanding. Great man, great boss, and great leader. He will be... more

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August 31, 2020

Bruce was a kind and gentle soul. He was able to get his point across without ever being upset or intimidating. At least not that I ever saw. His wife, Renee, is exactly the same way. I was always in awe of the way they handled themselves. I first... more

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August 31, 2020

I only had the pleasure to meet Bruce face-to-face on a couple of times, the last time up in Canada, however I would email Bruce and always received a prompt response. My position on the Quality Assurance Group meant that we would exchange information... more

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August 31, 2020

I had the honor as a TCM of working closely with Bruce in 2000 when MicroTraffic was coming out. He was a great person to work with. He will be missed!!

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August 31, 2020

Bruce always had a way of making you feel like part of the team and your input was valuable. He was a true leader. He will be sorely missed by all. My condolences go out to Renee and wonderful family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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August 31, 2020

Rene, no one can ever replace the amazing person that Bruce was. He's one of the team members gave me a tour of the Towers on my first day at U-Haul. Bruce was always a great role model in our sharing and caring community. What a true inspiration this... more

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August 31, 2020

Words are so hard to put down when there is so much to say. Bruce was nothing short of amazing. He was kind, giving, loving, understanding, open-minded, thoughtful, selfless and so much more. He asked questions to learn about who you were and where you... moreWords are so hard to put down when there is so much to say. Bruce was nothing short of amazing. He was kind, giving, loving, understanding, open-minded, thoughtful, selfless and so much more. He asked questions to learn about who you were and where you came from. For Bruce and I, we both grew up in the Chicago land area. We talked often about it and shared stories. He wanted to get to know you. He wanted to hear your story. He wanted to create a relationship.

Here is my special moment of meeting Bruce:

A little over a year ago I was given the opportunity to meet Bruce through his son, Chasan. Chasan and I had gone on a first date and at the end of of it Chasan asked me if I wanted to go to the Dbacks game the following night. I of course said yes and after saying yes, Chasan followed up with "Great, i'll talk to my dad and uncle to figure out plans." As you can imagine, I was a little confused and unsure of his words. I thought to myself "Going on a date with your dad and uncle and I barely know you? Really? That's weird". But, as weird as I thought it was at the time, I went. And I am so thankful I did. That night meeting Bruce and his uncle John was so far from awkward. It was fun, exciting, competitive (John and Chasan love to bet against one another, but they also would rely on Bruce's knowledge to make sure they were in fact making good bets) and it allowed conversation to happen to learn a little bit of who each other was. It gave me such an insight as to who Bruce was and the relationship that Chasan and him had. Bruce was not just his dad, but rather Chasan's best friend. The bond they shared over the Dbacks was so strong. Over the last year I can't count how many conversations I have witnessed or heard as they discussed the score, a certain play or a specific player. If the Dbacks were playing, it was on the TV and Bruce and Chasan were watching it together and talking about it. Win or lose, Bruce was a fan. Although I am Cubs fan (as Bruce was as well at one point being from Chicago), I will be a Dbacks fan for him and Chasan. I will rock the Dbacks hat Bruce and Renee got me for Christmas once they realized I did not have any Dbacks gear (Bruce wasn't going to let me go without any attire) and I will always remember him for that. This COVID pandemic might have put a stop to attending MLB games in person, but it did not put a stop to the love Bruce had for the game. When fans are allowed back in, you can guarantee we will be there to cheer on the Dbacks as Bruce would have wanted. I will always cherish one of my first dates not only with Chasan, but also with Bruce. ⚾ 💕 less

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August 30, 2020

Bruce was one of those rare men who was universally liked, respected and admired. Not only was he a rock for his family, he was a rock for all those who worked with him. Smart, steady and unfailingly kind. A great man and a great loss. I can't help... more

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August 30, 2020

My deepest sympathies to the Royer family for your loss. Bruce was an passionate and caring individual. He always had a smile every time I saw him in the field or in the office. Bruce had a infectious calming persona when things might not be going so... more

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August 30, 2020 · via iPhone

My sincere condolences to the Royer family. Bruce was such a kind person. My first memories of Bruce go back to when I was a GM and called Phoenix for help. Bruce always answered his phone or he always called you back. That was the thoughtful and caring... more

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August 30, 2020

My condolences to the Royer family. Bruce was one of those smiling faces I'll always remember from my time in Phoenix. I've had the pleasure of being able to meet and work with Bruce, Renee, and Chasan and they are all the nicest, most dedicated and... more

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August 30, 2020

If I had never met Bruce, I would not be the same person that I am today. I first met Bruce during my interview for an Intern position at U-Haul in May 2007. After two months of internship, he trusted me and offered me a full time position while I was... moreIf I had never met Bruce, I would not be the same person that I am today. I first met Bruce during my interview for an Intern position at U-Haul in May 2007. After two months of internship, he trusted me and offered me a full time position while I was still going to school. Silly me first rejected his offer, saying I am too busy to drive 25 miles one way for this job. Instead of giving up on me, he came up with a flexible work schedule that worked with my school schedule and convinced me to take this job. At that time, I did not realize how lucky I was to have an amazing opportunity to learn directly from this legend. I learnt a lot from him: how to work hard, how to treat your co-workers, how to treat your employees, how to be an extraordinary leader, how to give credit to others, how to fix/build anything and everything, how to remain calm and composed when pretty much everything around you is falling apart, and the list goes on and on. I read somewhere that the first 3 years of someone’s career is what determines if they are going to be ordinary employee or a rock star. I consider myself extremely lucky that I got to learn from Bruce in those precious years of my life. Words cannot express how thankful I am to have this special person as my mentor and friend.

One funny incident that comes to mind is when Bruce attended my graduation ceremony at ASU and later we had a get-together at my home where we ordered Indian food. Although we mentioned the spice level should be mild, somehow the restaurant made it spicy. I had no idea that the food was as spicy as it actually was and I wanted to feed the guests first and it did not even occur to me to taste the food before serving. During dinner, Bruce’s face turned bright red. I have never in my life seen anyone turn that red. I freaked out and tried to grab his plate while apologizing for feeding him spicy food. His reaction was “Please do not apologize, I am enjoying this food.” Clearly his body was communicating otherwise, but he did not want to make me feel bad. After that, I always tasted food first before serving it to guests.

Bruce is one of those people who have this extraordinary charisma to connect with an extremely wide spectrum of people across different age groups, ethnicities and cultures. I remember once I brought my son, Adarsh (when he was around 6 or 7 years old), to work and Bruce spent a significant amount of time talking to him about his school and what he wants to do when he grows up, and Adarsh used this opportunity to show off his newly acquired skills in ‘scratch’ programming. Together they built a very cool animation game and Bruce printed the code and the output and made Adarsh sign it saying “One day you are going to become very famous and this piece of paper will be priceless.” Still to this day, Adarsh truly believes his words :). Bruce always had a special spot in his heart for Adarsh. He even attended his Upanayanam (coming of age celebration) and although it was pretty long and he did not understand much of the traditions, he still enjoyed it. My family will always remember him dearly.

He was an amazing mentor. He always gave me the right advice, even at times when I probably did not want to hear it. He had a way with words and somehow always made me believe that in the end I came up with an idea/plan, but in reality he had asked the right questions to guide me to it. I always thought it was me coming up with these great and clever ideas, and it took me years to realize he was the one behind it all.

Bruce was a true leader, he always led by example. He always listened patiently without rushing to judgement. He had a unique capability of understanding the true potential of others and how to enable them to reach it. He was a true gem of a person with the highest level of integrity, empathy, humility, character, passion, and empowerment. When I think of Bruce’s leadership, the quote that comes to my mind is “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence”. I am who I am because of him (at least the good side of me). I cannot put into words how much I owe him for everything he did for me. The best way I can repay him is to be there for others and help them in the same way he helped me.

I am honored and blessed to have Bruce as my mentor, leader and friend. He was truly a blessing in my life and I will miss him dearly.

Renee', Chasan and Kyle, I know words, however kind, can’t mend your heartache. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling right now, but please remember, I am just one phone call away and you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. less

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added 4 photo(s) to the memorial :

August 29, 2020

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August 29, 2020

Gwen and I knew Bruce through the friendship of our two daughters, Kellyn and Ali. Events in Junior High and later High School brought Bruce and I together watching with amazement as our pre-teen and later teenage girls grew and blossomed. Whenever I... more

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August 29, 2020

My deepest condolences to the entire Royer family. I was shocked to hear the news of Bruce’s passing. I worked with Bruce back in the early 2000’s while I was TCM in 721 company. He would come to my traffic department while testing the new Advanced... more

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August 29, 2020

I have a lot of wonderful memories of Dad and saw the impact he had on everyone’s lives he touched. That is ever more apparent as I read thru everyone’s wonderful stories and tributes on this forum. Thank you to everyone for sharing your memories... more

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August 29, 2020 · via iPhone

Bruce was a wonderful human being. His smile made my day several times over. He was down to earth, genuine and would give the shirt off his back for anyone. I know I am a better person for knowing him and his beautiful family. They are all cut from the... more

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August 29, 2020

Here in Iowa we are still in shock, it seems unbelievable that Papa Bruce is gone. It just can’t be… he has touched our lives in so many ways. I can still see him napping on our couch, stretching on our floor, and grilling on our grill. In our back... moreHere in Iowa we are still in shock, it seems unbelievable that Papa Bruce is gone. It just can’t be… he has touched our lives in so many ways. I can still see him napping on our couch, stretching on our floor, and grilling on our grill. In our back yard we have a perfectly straight fence because of him (had it been up to Bob and I it would have definitely been leaning by now!) Every time he visited, he made sure to enjoy quality time with the family while taking on projects that were beyond our abilities.

And then there are the trips to AZ and CO. He so graciously met us at the airport nearly every time- meeting “hurricane Border” head on as we came in with our crying babies and mounds of luggage. He lent us his truck several times, as he went without. In the mornings he would lend his iPad to the kids to watch cartoons to buy Bob and I an extra hour of sleep. There was never any doubt that we were welcome and that he was enjoying his time with the family.

It makes us so sad to know that he is gone, but we have been left with full hearts. He truly made the best of every moment, every day. Colin says that his favorite memory of Papa is when he took him fishing at Ada Hayden, the day Gavin was born. He just wishes he could “engineer” with him one last time. (aka, build something) And Ava remembers the time she helped him with a project in his shop in AZ- which is just the kind of thing he would do. She also loved dancing with him in our living room. Gavin doesn’t have much to say about it, but I have the most amazing photo of the two of them the day that he was born that he will cherish forever. And I will remember him for his kindness and ingenuity. There have been several times, when no one is watching, that I have inspected something that he has built to figure out just how he did it 😊

We wish we could be in AZ right now with Bob, celebrating the amazing man that he was. COVID has really turned our world upside-down, and this is quite possibly the worst of it. To not be able to be part of his celebration is hard. We have vowed to celebrate his life today in Iowa, and at a later time with family in AZ. We will remember Papa Bruce for the amazing man that he was. less

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August 29, 2020

Mike and I have had the pleasure of working with the Royer family for decades. We are so very saddened by Bruce’s passing. Dear Renee, and all the Royer bunch, you have our deepest sympathies.

One of Bruce’s work legacies that the U-Haul News... more

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August 29, 2020

My condolences to the Royer family. Bruce has helped me many times in my U-Haul career, from working with him on MicroTraffic to internal audit. I have always admired his quick smile, always willing to say hello and ask how you are doing, and his over... more

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added 1 photo(s) to the memorial :

August 29, 2020

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August 29, 2020

Geri and I are truly sorry for the loss that the Royer family is experiencing. I can’t imagine what they are feeling and they will continue to be in our prayers.

Bruce Royer was an amazing person all around. He was kind to everybody, he was full of... more

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August 29, 2020

First my heartfelt condolences to the entire Royer family.
I have Bruce to thank for my career at U-Haul. All the wonderful things being said about Bruce couldn't be more true. He was always approachable and a great example of what a leader should be.... more

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August 29, 2020

During my career with U-Haul I have had the pleasure speaking with Bruce numerous times for advice, thoughts, and procedures. He always showed personal interest in the conversations and I felt comfortable and confident seeking his wisdom. This is also... more

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August 29, 2020 · via iPhone

My most deepest condolences to the Royer family
In these difficult times I hope you are able to find comfort in these words of hope I’d like to bring to you, May god bless you

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August 28, 2020 · via mobile

Bruce was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I am so sorry to the family. The world was a brighter and better place simply for having him in it.

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August 28, 2020

Please accept my heart felt condolences. I never personally had a chance to work or interact too much Bruce Royer. I was introduced to him from another team member during a conversation. We had a long length of conversation made me feel leaders of... more

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August 28, 2020

Bruce was such a wonderful person and a joy to work with. He was a mentor and never lost his composure under the most stressful situations. He hired me and was a great example of how a manager should be. He would stop and chat every time I saw him around... more

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August 28, 2020

Laurie and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the Royer family.

I had the privilege of getting to know Bruce when I moved to Phoenix to work in Rates and Distribution. He collaborated with us on Advanced MicroTraffic, which was a... moreLaurie and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the Royer family.

I had the privilege of getting to know Bruce when I moved to Phoenix to work in Rates and Distribution. He collaborated with us on Advanced MicroTraffic, which was a significant game changer that exponentially made life better for so many people working on the front lines. I was lucky to have been involved, and we “professionally” disagreed enough that Bruce took me onto his team. That’s the kind of man that he was. He elevated everyone around him, and he preferred to see things from all sides, even when it conflicted with his vision. I enjoyed every minute of working with him on that and many other projects.

I not only consider Bruce a great leader, but a great friend and mentor. I learned so much about patience and understanding working with him. I’ve never met anyone who worked with others with such grace, calm, and understanding. I strive to emulate these qualities because of him.

Believe it or not, Bruce has even impacted my fashion sense, as I only will buy flip flops with bottle openers in the soles (I’d tell the story but Michal already has).

Lastly, I want to share one of my early and fun memories of Bruce. We were traveling to various locations between Cleveland and Pittsburgh to get feedback on a new POS interface and we were checking into our first night at the hotel. I had never traveled with Bruce or Michal before, but they had traveled together. Bruce said that he was taking a room alone because he wanted to get some sleep, and I was sharing a room with Michal. I thought maybe he either didn’t want company, or maybe I had rubbed him the wrong way. Well it turns out that he had previously kicked Michal out of his room on a previous trip to Las Vegas because he snored so loudly.

The next morning, when I dragged myself to the lobby half-awake for breakfast, Bruce had the most devilish grin on his face that I had ever seen. He knew what he did to me, and we all laughed about that for years.

Bruce you will be missed, but you will live on through all those you have touched with your kindness, leadership and friendship. less

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Bruce Royer

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