Bruce Nye Hartley

It is with honor and a heavy heart that we celebrate and remember Bruce Nye Hartley who peacefully passed away in his home on October 31, 2015 at 91 years young. He was loved by many and respected by all who knew him.

Bruce Nye Hartley was born July 26, 1924, to Burrell Washington Hartley and Jessie Lee Hamilton in Gainesville, GA. His mother died unexpectedly when he was 3 and he fondly remembered his older sister Eulahia “Leyla” Hartley who helped to raise him. Bruce grew up in Milledgeville, GA and was attending the Georgia Military Academy when World War II began. Needing his father’s signature, he joined the United States Navy on June 7, 1942 and was stationed in the South Pacific near the Solomon Islands during World War II where he saw significant battle. Bruce was discharged on December 31, 1945, but rejoined on May 7, 1946 and served until September 1, 1973. When stationed at the Naval Training Center (NTC) in San Diego in 1964-1966 he was Company Commander and trained Navy Recruits where he earned Brigade Honors and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. He then served in Vietnam aboard the USS New Jersey from 1967-1969. His last assignment with the Navy was Instructor Duty at Fleet Training Group San Diego in Point Loma. After retirement, he worked in security for General Atomics, retiring in April 1986.

While on a trip to Boston in 1952, Bruce was introduced to his future wife, Palma Alessi. It was love at first sight from that point forward. They were married only six months later on November 21, and were together nearly 63 happy years. As their family grew to four young children they frequently relocated to new duty stations from coast to coast yet always returned to San Diego where they made their home.

Bruce always enjoyed spending time with family and friends especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren who knew of him lovingly as “Pop Pop.” He enjoyed traveling with his wife Pam and visited Hawaii, Australia, The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Williamsburg, VA and even a stateside cross-country road trip. He truly enjoyed gardening, reading, fishing, carpentry, football and history (especially Civil War history).

Bruce is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Palma and their 4 children Denise (John) Kloska, Bruce Wayne (Sally) Hartley, Maureen (Scott) Miller and Mark (Ginger) Hartley as well as their 8 grandchildren Danielle Maxwell, Jacquelyn Kloska, Richard Hartley, Robert Hartley, Reese Hartley, Michael Miller, James Miller, Julia Miller and 4 great grandchildren Olivia Maxwell, Liam Maxwell, Atlas Hartley and Victoria Miller. In addition, Bruce is survived by his half-sister’s Emily Morse and Elizabeth Watkins as well as his life long friends.

Bruce was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He is truly an amazing icon for the family who was well respected by so many. He will live on in memory always. We will greatly miss him until we reunite with him in heaven. May God bless his memory among us.

Services for Bruce Nye Hartley will be held Monday, November 16, 2015 at 10:00AM at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 2696 Melbourne Drive, San Diego CA 92123 with Military Honors promptly following at 2:30PM at the Miramar National Cemetery at 5895 Nobel Drive, San Diego CA 92122.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:

• www.gethsemanesd.org

• www.woundedwarriorproject.org

• www.dav.org