Bruce David Cormier

Ellsworth

Bruce David Cormier, 75, died August 23, 2025, in the Ellsworth hospital. He was born in Rochester, NH to Leo and Annette Cormier on May 9, 1950, the youngest of 3 children. He was educated at St Johns Prep in Danvers and attended Harvard for a year before getting caught up in the Vietnam War protest movement. He met his wife Sally in New Hampshire, and they went on to live as small-time farmers. For 2 city people it was quite a challenge, learning to raise and process their own animals, raising vegetables, growing strawberries, cutting their own firewood, and finding work in blueberry fields and apple orchards. Winter was time for low budget travel, often to Mexico and Guatemala, hiking to Machu Picchu and once traveling overland all the way to Bolivia. Bruce worked as a rural mail carrier, and they spent many long vacations exploring the world. They enjoyed hiking trips in Spain and an extended house swap in France which allowed them to settle into a French village and find their favorite bakery.

While not a physically robust man, Bruce will be remembered as a thoughtful, kind and considerate person with a strong moral compass, and a firm commitment to living an ethical life with tolerance for others.

He was an accomplished jazz saxophonist and enjoyed playing gigs around Ellsworth with friends. A stroke in 2019 ended his ability to perform and limited other aspects of his life. He adjusted to those changes with quiet equanimity. His last years were spent reading and dissecting the New York Times and completing the daily Wordle.

He leaves behind his wife Sally and brother Bill (Cally) of New Hampshire, and many nieces and nephews.

Donations in his name can be made to the Ellsworth Public Library or the Frenchman's Bay Conservancy.

His green burial will be private.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com