Western Coastal and Marine Geology

In Memoriam: Terry Bruns, 1946 - 2006

Photo of Terry from Staff Poster, 2003.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.”
-- Greek proverb, quoted by Terry at the bottom of each of his e-mail messages.

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by Mike Fisher

USGS marine scientist Terry R. Bruns died unexpectedly on September 24, 2006. Terry's research and management efforts on behalf of the Western Coastal and Marine Geology team span more than 30 years. He is perhaps best remembered for his affable smile and embracing, upbeat personality. He was ever eager to assist others, and he brought these traits to bear during some of the team's most trying periods. Characteristically, his duties were conducted with a steady hand at the helm.

Terry Bruns partook of the golden years of marine-geologic research in the USGS--the 1970s and 1980s--when the farthest flung corners of the Pacific Ocean were within our purview and science was all that we were about. What a wild ride it was back then, he often mused. Terry was brought aboard in response to the energy crunch of the 1970s, and he began his research career by evaluating the geology and petroleum potential of the Gulf of Alaska. Through repeated marine surveys, he found that, indeed, the seas there are dismayingly high and rough, but the oil potential is low. Terry also made early contributions to our understanding of the geology and petroleum potential of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, now a focus in the heated national controversy over energy production versus wilderness preservation. Aboard the Ocean Drilling Program's research vessel Resolution, Terry helped drill into the Fiji Basin and the Tonga island arc. These are a few highlights of a long research career that also included studies in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Terry served the team for 9 years (1996- 2005) as Associate Team Chief Scientist, deftly handling such tasks as guiding the team's numerous office moves, crafting long-term space plans for the Santa Cruz office, and coordinating marine operations with the needs of scientists. As noted in one of his many award citations, Terry was "our rock" during his tenure, "providing continuity, wise guidance, occasional scolding, a willing ear, a noble spirit of camaraderie and selflessness, and behind-the-scenes... mastery to hold us together." On October 3, 2006, at Zott's, a local beer garden, about 80 of Terry's friends and colleagues gathered in fond eulogy. Seemingly just for this occasion, a week-long spell of somber, dismal weather moderated to dappled sunlight. More than a dozen speakers remembered Terry's impact on their lives. Most spoke warmly of his humanity and concern for others. A few noted his occasional fits of temper at obdurate bureaucracy. Some noted his love of book collecting and printing and his passion for the outdoors. His sudden, untimely death defies understanding, but his many friends will remember him with great fondness.