Bruce McEwan

Class Notes
Class of 1955
Posted on December 4, 2017

Bruce McEwan passed away peacefully on Nov. 23rd, 2017, surrounded by family members and M.L., his engaging and devoted wife of 44 years. As reported earlier, Bruce had been in declining health for the past year. He inspired others with his trademark joviality throughout the trying time. In a note to classmates for our 50th Reunion in 2005 he wrote: “I hope to see y’all in ’05, but I am still smoking and drinking and according to The New England Journal of Medicine, I’ve already been dead for 4 1/2 years.” Well, Bruce’s upbeat presence bested the Journal’s prediction by 17 years! He’ll be circulating among us in spirit sharing his abounding enthusiasm when we gather for our 65th Reunion in 2020. Mike Grant writes: “No member of our class loved Deerfield more, and he constantly talked up reunions and getting together through trips and regional associations. He was a colorful guy with magnetic energy and a puckish sense of humor. He was also a local legend in Florida politics, and represented the Orlando area in the state legislature with panache.”

Bruce was an active participant in his community. He served in the Florida Legislature for 12 years and had a perfect attendance record in his Orlando, Florida, Rotary Club for 45 years! He and M.L. traveled extensively, and, on one occasion in 2004 they met Margarita and Manning on an Amazon River cruise. The Curtis’s were traveling with a group of alumni from Andover Academy where Margarita was a member of the faculty. They quickly became friends and later, on a visit to Cape Cod, Bruce and M.L. urged Margarita to apply for the position as Head of School at Deerfield that had just become available. Well, since 2006 Deerfield continues to thrive with Margarita at the helm. Thank you Bruce, M.L., and Margarita.

Please refer to the Baldwin-Fairchild Ivanhoe Obituary for more details of Bruce’s many accomplishments and family members.

Captions for photos:
1. Bruce McEwan
2. A gathering at our 55th Class Reunion in 2010. (l-r) Tom and Merry L’Esperance, Jerry Rood, Bruce McEwan, Margarita Curtis, M.L. McEwan, Manning Curtis, Jay Morsman, and Joyce Rood
3. Terry Fuller and Bruce McEwan at our 60th Reunion in 2015
4. Bruce McEwan endures the elements with his matching umbrella
5. Bruce and M.L. McEwan en route to a wedding in 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the Alumni Association?

Upon graduating from Deerfield, alumni enter a diverse network of former Deerfield students. Deerfield alumni have ventured into almost every area of employment, and many are at the top of their respective fields. The advantages of this vast network are numerous and significant, as every member of the Deerfield family receives the following:

Automatic subscription to Deerfield Magazine
Online subscription to the Deerfield Scroll
Access to the Deerfield Mobile App and directory
Invitations to special events both on and off campus
Eligibility for membership in a number of recognition societies

Alumni are also eligible for alumni awards, such as the Ashley Award, Heritage Award, and the Mimi Morsman Award.

As a member of the Alumni Association, do I have dues?

There are no membership fees or dues for members of the Deerfield family, but Deerfield does ask for assistance in a few areas. First of all, in order for Deerfield to have the most up-to-date records possible, we encourage members to keep us apprised of their current contact info. Alumni are also urged to direct all concerns and suggestions regarding Deerfield’s operations through the Executive Committee, the governing body of the Alumni Association. The committee acts as the voice of the alumni body, and works closely with the school administration. In order to keep tuition affordable and the quality of a Deerfield education at its highest, the Academy depends upon the continuing support of alumni and their families. This support can take the form of annual or capital gifts, or time spent volunteering on behalf of Deerfield.

How can I network with other alumni in my area?

There are Deerfield Clubs in many major American cities. Please visit here for more information on specific clubs and their sponsored events.

As a Deerfield alum, am I invited to campus athletic events and performances?

Of course! Be sure to read the latest issue of From Albany Road in your email’s in-box for current news of what is happening on campus. As we also send out periodic invitations, it’s always best to make sure we have your current physical address. And if you do plan on visiting campus, why not tell us ahead of time?

Contact the Office of Advancement

alumni@deerfield.edu
413-774-1474

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 306
Deerfield, MA 01342

7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Deerfield Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.