Bruce E. FYFE

FYFE, Bruce E.

66, of Dunedin, FL went to be with his Lord early Friday morning March 24, 2017 at Mease Dunedin Hospital, surrounded by his loving family

Bruce was born in New Jersey. His mother spent three months in bed awaiting his arrival. Bruce arrived early and got to spend almost two months in a hospital incubator. Bruce always seemed to be a little ahead of his time.

In 1964, his family moved to New York City, where Bruce completed high school. He attended Beloit College in Beloit WI, graduating in 1972 with a BA in history. In 1975, he obtained a paralegal degree in fiduciary law from New York University. Following graduation Bruce secured a job with Manufacturers Hanover Trust. He was the youngest Trust Officer for the bank.

In 1980, Bruce grew tired of freezing weather and moved to Florida. He began working at Park Bank in 1982 and, while there, created the first private banking division in the state of Florida. He left the bank in 1985, starting his own financial planning firm, Personal Resource Management, with a handful of clients.

In 2000, Bruce merged his firm with Provise Management Group LLC. Bruce worked with many great people at Provise. One of the special people in Bruce's life at Provise was Eric Ebbert, his friend and partner. But even more important to Bruce were his many clients, whom he always rightfully referred to as his friends. And they in turn were supportive of Bruce, especially in his desire to help those in need in the community.

Bruce met his wife, Wanda in August 1990 and they were married at Everybody's Tabernacle in 1992. Bruce was a member of Everybody's Tabernacle and taught adult Sunday school and also provided occasional sermons in church. Bruce never claimed to be a preacher, only a teacher. Bruce's faith and love of God showed in his passion to help those in need. Bruce was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis early February 2017. During the struggles with his illness he never questioned his faith and told everyone he was ready to go to heaven.

Through the years, Bruce was involved in and supported many local organizations including Homeless Empowerment Program, Morton Plant Mease Health Care, Baycare, Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation, Clearwater Free Clinic, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, Humane Society of Pinellas County, and Charity Works.

Bruce served as Chairman of HEP, Homeless Empowerment Program (formerly the Homeless Emergency Project) for 23 years. During this time, with the help of HEP's dedicated staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, he was able to help the organization to expand from two employees and a budget of $100,000, to over 60 employees with an operating budget of over $5 million, serving just under 400 homeless individuals, families, and veterans per day. During his chairmanship, he was instrumental in the growth and expansion of the nonprofit, overseeing the development of HEP's campus from a collection of trailers used for offices and housing to the expansive eight-acre campus that exists today.

Most notably, Bruce and his wife, Wanda were responsible for the construction of HEP West Veteran's Apartments and Clubhouse. Inspired by the untimely death of his son, Brendan, a U.S. Marine who served three combat tours in Iraq, HEP West serves as respite for homeless veterans - specifically those who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Bruce was a man of selfless devotion, and was never one to seek the limelight. He was often an unsung hero, who was quick to give credit to others. It was only in recent years that he was publicly recognized for his work on behalf of HEP, having received awards for his philanthropic work. In 2012, Bruce was honored with the Lighting Community Hero Award, and in 2013 by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation which allowed HEP's name to be placed in lights on the world famous NASDAQ Market Site in New York City's Times Square - a true professional highlight in Bruce's career. In addition, financial gifts from these prestigious awards benefited homeless veterans residing at HEP. Bruce will be deeply missed by the entire HEP family, and his generous spirit will live on in the lives of those he helped.

Bruce served on the Morton Plant Hospital, Morton Plant Mease Health Care, and BayCare Board of Directors for nearly 30 years. Bruce also served in many capacities including Chair for both the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation and hospital boards. During that time, he was directly involved in the building of the Cantonis ER-1, the Turley Family Health Center, the Bardmoor Outpatient Clinic, the Cheek-Powell Heart & Vascular Pavilion, the Morgan Heart Hospital, Ptak Orthopedic and Neurosciences Building, Axelrod Pavilion, Carlisle Imaging Center, Susan Cheek Needler Breast Center, Mease Countryside expansion, Jacobsen ER, Mease Dunedin Harris ER, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, Starkey Tower, Tiedemann Tower, Doyle Tower, and programs such as the Dr. George Morris 'Earn As You Learn' and so much more. Bruce felt his best achievements were the merger of Morton Plant Hospital and Mease Hospitals without the need for additional litigation, and creating the Foundation's Community Impact Grant Process. Bruce was a passionate and honorable man who believed access to quality health care is an essential component to life, community, and family.

In addition to his loving wife, Wanda, Bruce is survived by his son, Alec; his dog, Duke; brother, Richard Fyfe and his wife, Choi Fyfe of Jacksonville; sisters-in-law, Barbara Green, Bonnie Slaughter, Audrey Patnaude, Pat McAbee, all of Clearwater and Judy McAbee of Kennesaw, GA; brothers-in-law, Nate McAbee and Pastor David McAbee of Clearwater, Charlie McAbee of Homosassa, and Max McAbee of Kennesaw, GA as well as 22 nephews and nieces and 24 great-nephews and nieces. Bruce Fyfe was also the father of the late Brendan Fyfe.

There will be a Memorial Celebration of Life for Bruce Fyfe at April 6 at 1:30 pm at Countryside Christian Center, 1850 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, FL 33759.

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds have been created by HEP and the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation to honor Bruce's commitment to helping those organizations.

At HEP, please donate to: Bruce Fyfe Memorial Fund, c/o HEP 1120 North Betty Lane, Clearwater, FL 33777, www.HEPempowers.org/donate-now

At Morton Plant, please donate to: Bruce Fyfe Memorial Fund, c/o Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation, 1200 Druid Road S., Clearwater, FL 33756, www.mpmf.org.