Wilber M. Brucker Jr. ’47

Warm friend to many, wise counselor to those in need, constant seeker of wisdom, loving spouse and father — these qualities typified Wil's enviable, rewarding life.

At Princeton he enjoyed many comrades, "presidented" Campus Club, courted Doris Ann "Danny" Shover, studied with zeal in the SPIA program, and graduated magna cum laude in 1949. Law school at Michigan (where he again excelled), marriage to Danny in 1951, a busy law practice in Detroit, a home in Grosse Pointe, and children Barbara, Wilber III, and Paul followed.

Wil's father was a respected former governor of Michigan and Eisenhower's Secretary of the Army, but Wil's continuous, diverse public-service activities were essentially apolitical — motivated by a devout, compelling belief that one's abilities should be used to make the world a better place. He served on the Board of Governors of Wayne State U. in inner-city Detroit for 11 years; he was active in Habitat for Humanity; and was an elder and Stephen Minister of his church.

Wil and his family loved their vacation home in northern Michigan. On Nov. 9, 2003, when they were closing it for the season, he suffered a massive heart attack. Shortly thereafter his life was beautifully celebrated at an overflow service in Grosse Pointe. We now celebrate it here, and hope the warmth of our admiration for Wil may provide some comfort to Danny, the three children, and four grandchildren.

The Class of 1947