Bruce Michael Birnbaum

Bruce Michael Birnbaum passed away on November 17th at the age of 77 after refusing to live in a world where Penn State doesn’t have a winning football team.  The doctors claim that COVID-19 got him, but his family knows that the true cause was the Nittany Lions’ 0-4 start.  Bruce was born in New York City in 1943 to Joseph Birnbaum and Estelle (Lawner) Birnbaum. He grew up in River Edge, New Jersey with siblings Carol (Hershman) and Alan.  Bruce graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1965 and continued to bleed navy blue for the remainder of his life.  In 1962 he met his wife Marcy, who kept his coffee mug full for 55 years.  While his primary loves were his family and Penn State football, Bruce also loved drinking coffee, reading science fiction, watching movies, and not exercising. He had a love of clever, off-color humor, particularly from the likes of Don Rickles, who once picked apart Bruce at a live show.  Bruce passed along his love of comedy to his sons through his appreciation of clever TV sitcoms and by taking them to R-rated comedies at an inappropriate age.  An incredibly smart man, Bruce was valedictorian of his high school. His professional career included strategic jobs at CIA, IBM, Security Pacific Bank, City of Mesa, and Cambridge Technology Partners.  After his early career drew him to Maryland and Georgia, Bruce permanently settled in Phoenix, Arizona in 1979.  Bruce was a very friendly, cool dude, who always shared his positive outlook. Bruce’s humor and optimism will live on in the family he adored:  wife Marcy, sister Carol, sister-in-law Debbie, sons Brett and Keith, grandchildren Colin and Kendall, cousins, nieces and nephews, who will all miss him dearly. Bruce was preceded in death by his mother Estelle, father Joseph, stepmother Marlene, and brother Alan.  No formal services will be held.  Instead Bruce’s family will remember him privately by sharing our favorite memories and telling inappropriate jokes. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Phoenix Children’s Hospital at phoenixchildrens.org. Condolences may be expressed at richardsonfuneralhome.org

Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the Birnbaum family.