Bruce Linden Ankuda, 66, passed away on Monday, April 16, 2018, at the Central Vermont Medical Center after battling multiple sclerosis for almost half a century.
Bruce was born on Oct. 26, 1951, in Springfield, Vermont, to Edward Ankuda Sr. and Marguerite Linden Ankuda.
He graduated from Springfield High School in 1969. Bruce attended college at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where he was a member of the tennis team and was fortunate to travel throughout the South while playing the sport he loved. Bruce then transferred to the University of Vermont, graduating in May 1973 with a degree in political science and geology.
On Jan. 28, 1984, he married the love of his life, Pamela Gandin, in Burlington, Vermont. Bruce and Pamela had one son, Geoffrey.
Despite extensive traveling over the years, Bruce loved living and working in Vermont. He spent many years working with nonprofit advocacy organizations, including serving as the director of the Franklin-Grand Isle County Community Action Agency. He transitioned to employment with the state of Vermont as the Agency of Human Services regional coordinator for Franklin/Grand Isle counties. He retired as an administrator from the Department of Employment and Training in 2002.
Bruce was a past member of the St. Albans Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed skiing, golf, tennis and travel as long as his health allowed. He loved time spent on sandy beaches, summer or winter.
Bruce and his family moved to their home on Woodbury Lake in 1996 and always found the lake magical and inspiring. He began and ended every day with a long look at the lake.
Surviving relatives include his wife and best friend, Pamela Ankuda, of South Woodbury; son Geoffrey Ankuda, of Joppa, Maryland; brother Edward Ankuda Jr. and his wife, Judy, of San Antonio, Texas; sister-in-law Melissa Lesogor and her husband, Allen; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves behind his beloved golden retriever, Rosie.
Pamela and Geoff would like to thank the staff at Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice and Barre Gardens Nursing Home, and the doctors and staff at Central Vermont Medical Center and the Health Center in Plainfield for the exceptional care and support they provided to Bruce and his family. A memorial reception to celebrate Bruce's amazing life will be held on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the Guare & Sons Funeral Home in Montpelier, Vermont, from 4 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be offered.
Those who wish may make memorial donations to the Central Vermont Humane Society or the Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue in Germantown, Tennessee.
Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com.
(Click on photo to enlarge)
No comments:
Post a Comment