Bruce Marshall Tyler

1940 - 2019

Bruce M. Tyler of Portland, Connecticut, born April 22, 1940 died suddenly on September 25, 2019. He was predeceased by his wife Karen D. Tyler of Portland and his parents George and Mary Tyler of Mystic. He is survived by his sister Judith Tyler-Wilcox (Allen) of Dallas, Texas, sons Anthony Tyler (Sabine) of Smith River, California and Scott Tyler (Sheila) of Seabrook, New Hampshire and daughters Elise Cotrone (Ellen) of Manchester, Connecticut and Hilary Phelps (Christopher) of Portland and grandchildren Maximilian Tyler, Luna Tyler, Scott Rice, Slade Rice, Kenneth Cotrone, Jr., Rachel Cotrone, Cassidy Phelps and Jacques Phelps. Bruce was a graduate of Fitch High School, Groton, Connecticut. He had advanced degrees from Wesleyan University (BA), the University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA) and the University of Connecticut (Ph.D.) After teaching for six years in Norwich and East Hampton, he worked as a management trainer at Electric Boat. He then joined the Hartford Insurance Group as a management trainer. After a number of promotions he transferred to the Consumer Finance Division of ITT Corporation in Minneapolis where he retired as Vice President and Director of Human Resources. Bruce was active in community affairs all of his adult life. In Portland he was Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Chairman of the Housing Authority, member of the Portland Board of Education and the Portland Charter Revision Commission. He was also a member of the Portland Exchange Club, the Portland Republican Town Committee and the Friends of Portland Library. Regionally he was chairman of the Godfrey Memorial Library Board of Trustees, Chairman of Community Action of Greater Middletown Board of Directors, President of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Middletown Board of Directors and a volunteer arbitrator for the Greater Hartford Better Business Bureau. His personal interests included genealogy, theater, reading and the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team. At his request, there will be no funeral and burial will be at the Indian Hill Cemetery, Middletown. Donations in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society or Friends of Portland Library.