1970s

William Bruce Armstrong III '71

William Bruce Armstrong III '71, a hospital administrator, grew up in Princeton, NJ, where he was born on August 17, 1948. A son of William B., Jr. and Virginia Ferguson Armstrong, he prepared for college at the Hun School in Princeton and entered Hamilton in 1966. Bruce Armstrong joined Alpha Delta Phi and, his diabetes controlled by insulin and diet, participated in a variety of intramural sports as well as varsity swimming. While in college he met Joanne M. Simmons from Ithaca College, and the couple enjoyed getting together for socializing and bridge at the ADP house. On August 19, 1972, the year after Bruce's graduation from Hamilton, they were married.

The Armstrongs moved to the Washington, DC, area, where Bruce was employed for a time by the U.S. Department of State. Having decided upon a career in hospital administration, he obtained a master's degree in that field from the Medical College of Virginia in 1976. That year, he and Joanne moved to Rutherfordton, NC, when Bruce was appointed assistant executive director of Rutherford Hospital. He subsequently served as an assistant administrator at the Petersburg General Hospital in Petersburg, VA. In 1985, the Armstrongs returned to New York State when Bruce became manager of quality assurance systems at Glens Falls Hospital. In charge of risk management and quality assurance, he would remain with the hospital for 23 years until his retirement on disability, a year before his death.

Known for his good and generous nature, robust sense of humor, and ready laugh, Bruce Armstrong was an ardent sports fan who followed tennis Grand Slam events as well as the Tour de France with particular enthusiasm. He was also an avid reader, especially of science fiction. In addition, he had a great fondness for the Adirondack region and its natural beauty. However, he derived his greatest joy from being a family man, and took special pride in the accomplishments of his children.

Active in the local Kiwanis Club, which he served for many years as treasurer, W. Bruce Armstrong was still residing in Glens Falls when he died in his sleep on October 22, 2009, of a heart attack, following his lifelong battle with juvenile diabetes. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Alexandra C. Armstrong; a son, William Bruce Armstrong IV; and a brother and a sister. Immensely fond of dogs throughout his life, he also leaves his beloved black Labrador, Logan.