Bruce Wallace

Bruce Gordon Wallace (71) passed away on July 13, 2018, succumbing to a long battle
with Lewy Body Dementia. Bruce was born in Westfield, N.J., in 1947, the third son of
John and Marjorie Wallace. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Jill, his three
sons Michael, Timothy, and Jeffrey (Darrah), and 4 grandchildren, Marion, Alden,
Marjorie, and Lettie, brother John (Bruce), brothers-in-law Cliff Nelson (Beth) and John
Nelson (Cyndy), and 8 nieces and nephews - Lisa Sayoc (Stephen), Christopher Nelson
(Holly), Stephen Nelson (Christina) and Matthew Nelson (Alana), Jessica Fedderly
(Matt), Stephanie Nelson, Emily Nelson, and Andrew Wallace (Jenn) along with
numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother
Richard.

Bruce earned a BA from Amherst College (1969) and a PhD from Harvard in
Neurobiology (1974). His career as scientific researcher and professor began at Stanford
where he co-discovered Agrin, a protein critical in the formation and maintenance of the
neuro-muscular junction. This discovery opened up a field of developmental
neuroscience that has had great biological and clinical significance.
Bruce continued teaching and researching at the University of Colorado School of
Medicine where he was a professor of physiology and assistant dean of the Essentials
Core Curriculum. He was repeatedly recognized for his outstanding teaching
contributions and he played a pivotal role in the development of a new Basic Science
curriculum for the School of Medicine. When the School's accreditation was up for
re-evaluation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Bruce led the lengthy
preparations for and helped successfully negotiate the School of Medicine's
accreditation. Bruce also co-authored editions of the popular neuroscience textbook,
From Neuron to Brain , that have been translated into seven different languages.
His wife and children remember Bruce for his dedication to his family. He loved family
life and all that it entailed. There were ball games of every kind (tennis, golf, backyard
football), creative projects with his boys (Halloween costumes, Pinewood Derby cars),
home improvement projects (finishing the basement, never ending sprinkler repair), and
summer camping trips (Mount Hermon family camp, Rocky Mountain National Park).
Bruce's journey to faith was a very long one and as he said more than once, "I want to
believe but...." One afternoon after several years of meeting with a dear friend and
faithful witness, Bruce announced that he had indeed asked Jesus into his heart as Lord
and Savior. Even though his dementia was progressing and it proved to be the eleventh
hour, we trust that his destiny was secured and that we will see him again one day in
heaven.

His memorial service will be held at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church at 11am on
Saturday, July 28, 2018. Donations may be made to Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW,
Rochester, MN 55905, by specifying that you would like your support to go to Lewy
Body Dementia research in honor of Dr. Brad Boeve and in memory of Bruce G.
Wallace.