Bruce Dohrmann

Bruce Potter Dohrmann

December 17, 1928 – May 3, 2018

A true gentleman, a kind spirit, and a true San Franciscan was lost with the passing of Bruce Potter Dorhmann on May 3, 2018. Bruce was at the family home in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, with his wife of 37 years, Nínive, by his side.
Bruce will be remembered as an engaged, intelligent, and thoughtful man. He loved the opera and the symphony. He read every day, multiple papers, and loved politics and geography deeply—he was always ready to talk about the latest news from around the globe, offering up little-known facts and citing his references. His knowledge of almost everything was unsurpassed, and his memory was infallible. He loved to travel, and took trips with Ninive often. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman, and loved to camp, ride horses, ski, and fly fish. He spent time camping and fishing on the Eel River in Northern California, and would ride his horse Newton in Golden Gate Park. He would take the family skiing on memorable trips to Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl and Sun Valley. He raised Nínive's two children as his own. He always had a smile on his face and creases to prove it.
A fourth-generation native San Franciscan, Bruce attended Town School for Boys. He then went to the Thatcher School, in Ojai, California, where he became an accomplished horseman before graduating in 1947. He was in the class of 1951 at Yale, then joined the Army, where he oversaw location assignments. He promptly stationed himself in Germany, in order to nurture his love of travel. Returning from the Army, Bruce attended the UC Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), and then went on to be a stock broker with Hambrecht & Quist and, later, a partner at Dakin, Costigan, Welpton (which became Moors and Cabot). Bruce was a Bohemian Club member since 1956, a happy, long-time member of the Seven Trees Camp.
After retiring from banking, he and Ninive moved to their home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. There they had a fabulous time, both with family and with an extended group of warm and engaging friends. They were often found playing bridge & dominos, attending musical concerts & lectures, enjoying their church community, or planning their next trip. Their time together in Mexico marked a very happy period in Bruce's life.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Nínive Dohrmann, children Richard Clements and Nínive Calegari (Jean-Claude Calegari), grandchildren Cooper Clements, Nínive Carmen Calegari, and Jean-Paul Calegari, and his brother Eric Dohrmann.
There will be a ceremony to celebrate his life in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico on Saturday, May 26, and a later ceremony in San Francisco as well. Instead of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to scholarships for the Santa Catalina School in Monterey, honoring Nínive and Bruce Dohrmann.