John D. Bruce, died on April 7 in Rockport at the age of 78 due to complications from lung cancer.

Mr. Bruce was born in Portland, Maine, the son of Frances and Douglas Bruce. His family later moved to Newton.

After graduating from Boston University, Mr. Bruce joined the family roofing business out of Brockton,   married Patricia Alexander and had three children; Douglas, Stacey and Jonathan. The family of five moved to Duxbury in 1960 where Mr. Bruce was active in church volunteer work and the Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Duxbury School Committee for six years.  

Mr. Bruce was active in the construction industry, first in contracting, and later in the consulting phase until his retirement. In 1979, he formed an independent consulting firm dealing with exterior envelope problems with leakage or deterioration of institutional buildings such as universities, churches, hospitals, libraries and other such historic buildings.

In 1998, Mr. Bruce married Millicent Jenness. In 2000, the couple retired and moved to Rockport, where he was an active volunteer at the library, a member of the Rockport Building Study Committee, Rockport Music and participated in the Chamber of Commerce town activities.

In addition to his wife, Millicent, Mr. Bruce leaves his daughter, Stacey Bruce of Nyack, N.Y.;  his sons Douglas and his wife Muna of Somerville, and Jonathan and his wife Helen of Weston; a sister, Brenda Leslie, of Alexandria, Va.; his step-children, David, Elizabeth and Amy Jenness and their children; two grandchildren and two nieces and their families.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to VNA Care Network and Hospice at 8 Angle St., Gloucester, MA 01930, or Pigeon Cove Chapel, 155 Granite St., Rockport, MA  01966.  There will be a memorial service on Friday, April 16, at 4 p.m. at the Pigeon Cove Chapel, 155 Granite St. in Rockport.