Please join The Explorers Club, The Explorers Club Washington Group, and friends and family to celebrate and honor the life of Bruce Blanchard, medalist, former treasurer of the club, and fellow explorer.
The reception will take place from 2-4:30 PM on July 26th, at Explorers Club Headquarters in New York City. Please use the form below to RSVP.
More information on Bruce’s life, from The Explorers Club Washington Group:
Bruce was well known for his precision and fidelity to the mission of The Explorers Club and the Explorers Club Washington Group. He received The Explorers Club’s prestigious Sweeney Medal in 2015, awarded to a member who has exhibited an outstanding interest in the welfare and objectives of the Club. He also served as the Club’s Treasurer in NYC for more than four years. Bruce was an indispensable member of ECWG’s Board of Directors from 1995 until he stepped down in December 2022, and he served with distinction as ECWG’s Treasurer for 25 years, for which he was honored in May 2023 and received the title of ECWG Treasurer Emeritus.
Bruce was born on a little horse cavalry post in the Philippines and grew up on several Army posts. He received S.B. and S.M. Civil Engineering degrees from MIT, followed by 48 years in The U.S. Department of the Interior, and staff for the Cabinet level U.S. Water Resources Council. He served in several Senior Executive positions in Interior, including as Director of the Secretary’s Office of Environmental Project Review, where he provided advice on hundreds of significant environmental issues; as Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and as Special Assistant for Tribal Self Governance. Bruce received the Department’s highest honors, the Distinguished and Meritorious Medals, and he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1993. After 33 years of service, he retired with honor as a Colonel in the Maryland Army National Guard, where he received multiple Federal and State commendation and achievement medals. Bruce also served on the Board of Directors of the MIT Alumni Association and earlier served as President of the MIT Club of Washington, DC.
He is survived by his wife Mary Josie Blanchard, daughters Laura Blanchard and Renee Maxey, daughter-in-law Denise Blanchard, grandchildren Kendall (Ryan) Cleary, Jennifer (Trey) Dole, Eric Maxey, Cameron Dean, Canyon Blanchard, and Sophia Blanchard, and great-grandson Riley Bruce Dole. He was pre-deceased by his son Wendell Blanchard. Visitation and Memorial service was held in Washington, DC in March. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a future date.
