Bruce Lawrence Danielson of Decatur, GA departed this life on April 7, 2013, surrounded by his loving family, after an approximately year-long diagnosis and treatment for Multiple Myeloma, a blood plasma cancer.
Born May 16, 1959 in Chicago Heights, IL, Bruce moved to Atlanta in 1972, graduating from Crestwood High School, then attending NC State University and graduating with honors with a degree in public relations and marketing from the University of Florida in 1981. Bruce worked for the John H. Harland Company, MCI, UPS and lastly as Vice President of Executive Communications for Bank of America.
Bruce enthusiastically took on the challenges he faced with the disease as he had his many outside interests. Outside of family, music was his principal passion. Not ashamed to be referred to as a Deadhead, Bruce also had a strong passion for Old Time Appalachian String Band music. At the ripe age of 42 Bruce had the courage to learn to play the Mountain fiddle. Highly influenced by the great master fiddlers of Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, Bruce was a fixture at fiddlers conventions and camps throughout the Southern mountains, including his beloved Grayson County, Virginia. Many a late night mountain jam around a campfire would end with Bruce proclaiming "just one more tune y'all" only to proceed with another hour's worth of his favorite songs like "Hangman's Reel," "Falls of Richmond," "John Brown's Dream" and "Cold Frosty Morning." Bruce would often say of his fiddling -- "What I lack in skill I make up for in enthusiasm." Indeed "enthusiasm" was a guiding beacon of his life and a trait he passed on to countless friends and acquaintances.
Bruce also loved the outdoors, and did innumerable backpacking trips with a rag-tag group known as the Crestwood Hikers, including many week-long hikes in some of America's great National Parks. Bruce also enjoyed whitewater canoeing, and flipped much less frequently than his fellow paddlers. Whatever he took on in life, Bruce excelled.
Though not a native southerner, Bruce loved the south, especially its food and music. The man was a skilled eater too, and particularly enjoyed Bar-B-Q (only pork would do!) and Atlanta's Varsity restaurant. Bruce also enjoyed gardening, his dogs, collecting folk art, rooting for the Florida Gators, and most recently, his model trains.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Claire Kerby Danielson, whose dedication to Bruce in good times and bad, has been an inspiration to all who have witnessed it. Bruce also is survived by his much-loved children, Anya Elise Danielson and Nels Larrick Danielson, his mother, Betty Danielson, sister Eileen Danielson Christensen, brother Rick Danielson, niece Leslie and nephew Erik. Also, his first wife, Lauren Glendening Danielson, mother of Anya and Nels, has been of great assistance and encouragement to Bruce and Claire during these difficult times. Bruce's courage and good humor will be forever remembered by the many others whose lives he touched. Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Richard Danielson.
Memorial services celebrating Bruce's life will be conducted Thursday, the 11th of April at two o'clock at Patterson's Arlington Chapel with Dr. Stephen Huntley officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The National Parks Foundation http://www.nationalparks.org/ or The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation http://www.themmrf.org/.
Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family Thursday afternoon from one until two o'clock at H. M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, 404-851-9900.
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