Bruce J. Neilson ’64

Bruce Neilson passed away Aug. 30, 1994, in Gloucester Point, Va. He was 51. Bruce was professor of marine science, emeritus, at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science of the College of William and Mary.

Bruce came to Princeton from Greensburg, Penn. At Princeton, he was a member of Court Club. He was a member of the architecture department and in Triangle Club. After graduation, Bruce spent two years with the Peace Corps, in Sfax, Tunisia, then got M.S.E. and M.A. degrees in civil and geological engineering at Princeton; he got his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins in 1972.

At the marine institute, Bruce was head of the dept. of physical oceanography. He researched environmental issues, taking particular pride in his efforts to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Bruce served as chairman of the Gloucester County Democratic Committee and was a delegate to the 1984 Democratic Natl. Convention. He was a founding member and state director of Virginians For Justice, a group that works to advance equal justice for Virginia's gays and lesbians and for an effective, compassionate response to the AIDS epidemic.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dugald M. Neilson; his sister, Margaret Pirc; a daughter, Jana Neilson; a son, James E. Ebersole; and his life partner, A.J. Stafford. To all of them, the class offers its heartfelt sympathies.