Bruce R. Stephens

To Bonnie & Family, I was saddened to hear of Bruce passing. I started working for Sea World in the Spring of 1969, I beleive a few months before Bruce started and both of us made Director during Sea Worlds rapid growth. I enjoyed knowing Bruce over the years. One of my fondest memories was opening the park early one morning and hearing Bruce and Dave Butcher screaming for help at Shamu Stadium. One of them had become entangled in a net while trying to seperate Shamu from dolphins. I jumped...

Bonny, I simply quite dont know what to say. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I was shocked to say the least to hear of his passing. I met Bruce almost ten years back now where I worked at the San Antonio Zoo. I was a keeper training warthogs. Every time Bruce would visit, which was twice a year, he would always tell me the story of a keeper at another zoo who had trained the warthogs like one would train a dog. Though I had heard the story numerous times before I...

My thoughts and prayers to Bruce's family. While Bruce and I lost touch quite a while ago, I would think of him now and then and smile. When I was a new trainer at Sea World, Bruce went out of his way to show me the ropes, the right way to do things, and a calm explanation of why when I had questions. He was such a kind and compassionate individual.

Good bye Bruce.

I first met Bruce as a small child in Dover, Delaware. He was always one of my heroes. Our parents were good friends in the USAF and we kept in contact for many years.
I became close to him in the early 70s when he moved to San Diego to go to school on the G.I. Bill. My brother and I did many things with him in the days before his time at Sea World. Bruce was an exceptionally intelligent and good natured person who always kept a good sense of humor and a positive outlook on life.
I...

The Boelter Family sends this message with great regret that Bruce is no longer with us. Memories go back many years and our families are bound together by our children. Even though we have not had much opportunity to see each other in person, our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are sent with sincerity. Bruce will be remembered.

I loved Bruce. My sons loved Bruce. What was there not to love?

He truly embodied what a real man was all about: tough and kind; authoritative and mushy; professional and fun-loving; macho and corny; career oriented and kick back, and most of all, a devoted loving family man.
I guess that God needed a really great backgammon partner Up There!

Gosh, I will miss him terribly.......

I frankly can't remember the first time I met Bruce. I started in 1971 at Sea World in Park Operations. I do remember working the Shamu show...it was when the new stadium first opened and I believe Bruce was new and working under Bob Sheppard at the "state of the art" show...Shamu Goes Hollywood. Bruce was doing his thing with that trademark voice of his!

Us "newbies" would get "night party" duty. This is before they were called Special Events. I can remember many nights when...

I am very saddened to learn of Bruce passing away. May I take this moment to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family. I first met Bruce back in 1972 when I began my career with the merchandise department at Sea World. He was the first of many in the Animal Behavior Department that I would come to know and admire for his knowledge, skill and work ethic. He was a true professional and dedicated to the work he did at Sea World. I will always remember his good nature, engaging...

To Bonny and family, I am deeply saddend by the passing of Bruce. The association we shared while we both worked at Sea World is fondly remembered. We shared the Vietnam experience and I admired him for his constant professionalism.