It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague and friend Bruce Blanchard, MED’78, on December 25, 2024, at the age of 92. 

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 B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering degrees from MIT, followed by 48 years in The U.S. Department of the Interior, including as staff for the Water Resources Council. He served in several Senior Executive positions including as Director of the Secretary’s Office of Environmental Project Review, where he oversaw 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 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. 

Bruce loomed large in ECWG for many years and we will miss him. He is survived by his wife Mary Josie Blanchard, daughters Laura Blanchard and Renee Maxey, daughter-in-law Denise Blanchard, grandchildren Kendall Cleary, Jennifer 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. Memorial services will be held in Washington, DC on March 7, 4-7 PM, at Gawler’s Funeral Home, and on March 8 at the Church of the Pilgrims Presbyterian Church.

Yours in Exploration,

Bill Bowerman FN’19, Chair, ECWG