Bruce W. Hesselbach

1950 - 2017

Brattleboro - Bruce W. Hesselbach, 66, of Bruce Brook Road, Newfane, a well-known Brattleboro attorney died unexpectedly Tuesday evening, June 13, 2017 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

Bruce was born in Queens, New York on September 29, 1950, the son of William and Margaret (Walsh) Hesselbach. He was raised and educated on Long Island and went on to receive his BA in English, graduating Cum Laude from Yale University. He later earned his Juris Doctor degree from Villanova Law School.

Following graduation from law school he worked for a law firm in Manhattan, New York before moving to the Brattleboro area. In Brattleboro he worked at McCarty Law Offices, P.C. until 1996, when he established his own law practice, Hesselbach Law Office.

His true love was being a writer and poet. Bruce's first book of New Formalist poetry, Roving Enchantments, was published in May 2014 by White Violet Press. His steampunk novel, Perpetual Motion, was published by Cogwheel Press in 2013.

In 2005 Bruce published High Ledges, Green Mountains, a memoir about hiking Vermont's 270 mile Long Trail. An avid hiker, he had climbed over 540 different mountains throughout New England and New York State.

62 of his poems have been published in the small presses, including The Lyric, Trinacria, Piedmont Literary Review, Legal Studies Forum and Vermont Living. He was a longtime member of the Londonderry Poets and contributed to their two poetry collections. He has also had a number of short stories appear in various publications.

Active civically, Bruce was a member and served as Chairman of the Newfane Conservation Commission, served on the Board of Directors, Association of Vermont Conservation Commission, was a member of the Board of Directors, Leland and Gray Union High School, and served as Due Process Hearing Officer for the Vermont Department of Education.

With his wife, he was a communicant of Saint Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro. Bruce was a faithful and devoted husband and loving father and grandfather whose life centered around his family.

On June 3, 1972, in New Haven, Connecticut he was married to Carol Streeter who survives. Besides his loving wife of 45 years he leaves, his father and step-mother William and Margaret Hesselbach of Arvada, Colorado, one son, Brian Hesselbach and his wife Lyndsay of Whitingham, one daughter, Erica Hesselbach and her husband Michael Saccoccia of Canton, Michigan, his beloved grandchildren, Oren, Willow and Milo Hesselbach and Peter Saccoccia, one brother, Glen Hesselbach and wife Debi of The Woodlands, Texas, one brother-in- law, Gordon Streeter and wife Debbie of North Branford, Connecticut, two sisters-in- law, Joan Furr and husband Gary of North Branford, and Nancy Streeter of Branford. Additionally he leaves many nieces, nephews and several cousins.

He was predeceased by his mother who died in 1981.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Michael's Episcopal Church with Rev. Mary Lindquist, Rector, celebrant. A reception will follow the Mass to be held in the undercroft of the church. Burial will be in New Williamsville Cemetery.

Friends are invited to call at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home on Monday from 5 to 7 PM.

Bruce loved flowers and they will be gladly accepted for the services. For those who wish, memorial contributions in his name may be made to a charity of one's choice.

To sign an online register book or send messages of e-condolence to the family please visit www.atamaniuk.com

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