Bruce Martin ’57

A classmate who made the U.S. Army a great part of his life, Bruce died Jan. 8, 2025. He came to Princeton from Walpole (N.H.) High School. At college he majored in English and was a Commons captain for three years and a library assistant for four years. He joined Cloister Inn, for which he played intramural basketball. His senior-year roommate was Bill Johns.

Bruce married his childhood sweetheart, Janet Prentiss, shortly after graduation. Having participated in Army ROTC, Bruce served as an artillery officer at various bases in the U.S. and Europe, including SHAPE headquarters in Belgium, had two deployments to Vietnam, and was a battalion commander. He completed the Army Command and General Staff College and Army War College courses and then taught at both. He retired from the Army in 1985 as a full colonel.

Thereafter Bruce joined Cambridge International in Virginia, serving until 1993, when he moved back home to Walpole, N.H. He was active in the First Congregational Church there, as well as in the American Legion and Walpole Grange. He spearheaded the group that created and raised funds for the Veterans Memorial in Walpole. He also relaxed at his family cottage on Lake Warren, collected coins, was an avid card player, and tended a noteworthy garden.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jan; their three children, Gregory, Steven, and Tracey; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and other extended family members.