Remembering Bruce David Cormier: A Life of Music, Adventure, and Community

Bruce David Cormier, aged 75, passed away on August 23, 2025, at the Ellsworth hospital.

 

Born on May 9, 1950, in Rochester, New Hampshire, to Leo and Annette Cormier, Bruce was the youngest of three siblings.

 

He attended St. John's Prep in Danvers and briefly studied at Harvard before becoming involved in the Vietnam War protest movement.

 

Bruce met his wife, Sally, in New Hampshire, and together they embraced the challenges of small-scale farming.

 

They learned to raise and process their own livestock, cultivate vegetables and strawberries, and manage their own firewood.

 

To support their lifestyle, they worked in blueberry fields and apple orchards.

 

During the winters, Bruce and Sally embarked on low-budget travels to destinations like Mexico and Guatemala, hiked to Machu Picchu, and once journeyed overland to Bolivia.

 

Bruce worked as a rural mail carrier, allowing them to take extended vacations exploring the world.

 

They enjoyed hiking trips in Spain and an extended house swap in France, immersing themselves in a French village and discovering their favorite bakery.

 

Known for his thoughtfulness, kindness, and strong moral compass, Bruce was committed to living an ethical life with tolerance for others.

 

He was an accomplished jazz saxophonist, performing with friends around Ellsworth.

 

After a stroke in 2019 ended his ability to perform, Bruce adapted with quiet equanimity, spending his final years reading the New York Times and completing the daily Wordle.

 

He is survived by his wife, Sally, his brother Bill (Cally) of New Hampshire, and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

Donations in Bruce's memory can be made to the Ellsworth Public Library or the Frenchman Bay Conservancy.

 

His green burial will be private.

 

In the spirit of Bruce's love for community and music, Ellsworth continues to celebrate local culture.