Dennis Alan Bruggman

We are sad to announce the passing of Dennis Alan Bruggman, 76, of Torrance, CA, on April 20, 2024. 

Dennis was born on February 12, 1948, in Sacramento, CA. He grew up fascinated with science and nature and became interested in improving himself. Proudly, Dennis joined the Eagle Scouts during his formative years and earned an Order of the Arrow Badge for helping construct the Deer Crossing Lodge near Lake Tahoe.

After graduating from McClatchy High School in 1966, Dennis enlisted in the US Naval Reserves while earning an associate degree in biology from Sacramento City College. He was drafted and deployed to Da Nang, Vietnam, for one year of active duty.  He was Honorably Discharged from the Naval Reserves in 1970. 

Dennis resumed his education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Sacramento State College in 1974. Later, he obtained a second Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering at Long Beach State University in 1983.

In 1976, Dennis met his wife, Deborah, while out dancing in San Diego, winning her heart with his dance moves and sense of humor. They were married in 1979. Dennis and Deborah went on to have three children: Steven Eric Bruggman, Heather Lauren Bruggman (Lozano), and Kathrine Christine Bruggman (Dahlan), and 10 grandchildren.

Dennis had multiple careers, first serving as a Fish and Game Warden, then as a NOAA porpoise observer on a tuna fishing boat before moving onto a highly accomplished quarter-century career in electrical engineering at various aerospace companies in the Los Angeles region (Hughes Aircraft, TRW, Northrop, Raytheon). Dennis ended his career as an auditor with the Department of Contract Management Agency for the Department of Defense serving for 13 years until his retirement. He was awarded a medal by the DCMA for Civilian Career Service.

Dennis loved to practice martial arts, earning multiple blackbelts. He was a life-time learner, always studying along with YouTube university professors lecturing on a multitude of topics from geology to the cosmos. He enjoyed gardening, community activism and stock market analysis. He was also known for camping, RVing, fly fishing, hiking, running, and cycling along the beach. Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Robert Rees Bruggman and Gladys Diana Olsen. He is survived by his wife, Deborah, children Steven, Heather and Katherine, and ten grandchildren Stephanie, Sebastian, Steven Jr., Charlotte, Oliver, Jacob, Justin, Vincent, Whitney and Tristin, all of whom will remember him most for his love of family and patience. May we all meet again in the big campground in the sky.

Services will be held at Coastal Funeral Center, located at 25001 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717, on May 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM.