Albert Bruce Bergquist

Albert Bruce Bergquist, known as Bruce, a gregarious educator and adventurous leader within non-profits, died at age 84 at home in Olympia, Washington, on March 30, 2018. Bruce was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Albert Gustave Bergquist and Lillian Elisabeth Oberg. Raised in nearby Holden, Bruce came of age immersed in baseball, books, and friends. A member of the Class of 1955 at Dartmouth College, Bruce earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and later a Master’s at Middlebury College. He married life-long partner, Betsy, in 1956, and set out on married life in the Naval Academy, followed by a stint teaching naval history at Princeton University. Later, Bruce commenced a multifaceted career as educator and administrator, committing himself to increasingly progressive teaching, including ten years at the Hill School in Pennsylvania, followed by serving as founding Executive Director of Dynamy, a residential gap year program ahead of its time in Massachusetts. In 1978, he and Betsy founded Baker River School in the woods of New Hampshire, a school based on their deepest beliefs about how educational values needed to change. Together, they wrote the book “Up the Hill to Baker River School.” Among students there, Bruce was known for building dorms, tapping maple trees, balancing books, and, of course, administering with charisma. In 1984, he and Betsy went on to co-lead Solebury School, in Pennsylvania. For the last 29 years, Bruce lived primarily in Olympia, Washington, where he was a co-founder of the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center. Together with Betsy, he taught workshops for couples on Imago relationship therapy. Bruce led a self-directed life made rich every day with books, piano, music appreciation, history, crosswords, fresh water swims, walks, the Red Sox, and most of all, communing with people. A lifelong learner and joyous conversationalist, Bruce befriended those of every age. He is survived by wife, Betsy; children, Sally, Berit, Sam, and spouses; brother, Stephen and spouse; and five grandchildren. Please leave memories of Bruce or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.