Bruce Garfield Collipp

Bruce was born November 8, 1929 in Niagara Falls, New York to Platon Garfield and Audrey Marie Collipp. In his youth, Bruce enjoyed hiking camping and canoeing. He was active in the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Bruce graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1947, and then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) from 1948 to 1953, graduating with a Masters degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. During his college years, Bruce also served two tours with the Merchant Marines and traveled to many ports around the world.

While at M.I.T., Bruce met Priscilla Jane Milbury at a school dance and a courtship began. Priscilla was attending Tufts University. Following their graduation, Bruce married Priscilla in Boston on Christmas Day, 1954. Shortly thereafter, Bruce and Priscilla moved to Texas where Bruce began a career with Shell Oil Company. Initially, he had field assignments in Kilgore, Conroe, Houston, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Lafayette where he learned about the oil and gas business. In 1968, he and Priscilla settled down in west Houston and lived there ever after. In the 1960’s the offshore oil industry was in its infancy. During this time Bruce’s work became focused in the emerging offshore industry. He was involved with many of Shells groundbreaking offshore projects, including Bluewater I and II, Cognac, Bullwinkle, Shell America and others. He would become known as an engineering pioneer and “The Father of the Semisubmersible.” Bruce worked for Shell for 34 years and retired in 1988.

Bruce received many awards for his pioneering contributions to the field of Ocean Engineering. In 1979, he was awarded the ASME’s Holley medal for pioneering contributions to the semisubmersible offshore, floating drilling rig platform and for continued leadership in the development of innovative ocean engineering technologies. In 1991 in Washington DC, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and awarded the National Academy of Science’s Gibbs Brothers Medal. This medal is awarded for outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering. In 2002, he received the Offshore Technology Conferences’ (OTC) Distinguished Achievement Award, and was named the OTC 2002 Man of the Year. In 2014, he was awarded the Sperry Award by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).

Bruce and Priscilla had two children. Gary Bruce Collipp was born in 1958 and Richard Bruce Collipp was born in 1960. Bruce took the family camping at National and State Parks for summer vacations. Christmas was often spent with his Brother Jack’s family. Later, weekends and summer vacations were enjoyed at a Lake Livingston lake house swimming, sailing and water skiing. Bruce and Priscilla were active members of Pines Presbyterian Church for over 35 years. Bruce served as an elder, helped with church expansion projects and attended men’s Bible study. Bruce also coached Little League Baseball for several years.

During his retirement years, Bruce and Priscilla continued as active members of Pines Presbyterian Church. They took trips to Europe, Israel and parts of the U.S. He and Priscilla enjoyed attending Stratford High School football games and Stratford Playhouse plays. Bruce mentored several junior high school students. And he enjoyed building several large and intricate wooden models of classical sailing ships.

Bruce was a wonderful and supportive husband and father. He will be missed deeply.

Bruce is survived by his wife Priscilla Collipp; Brother Dr. Jack and Bonnie Collipp, his two sons Gary Collipp and wife Teresa and Richard Collipp and wife Maria Locascio, three nephews Dan, Tom and David Collipp and their families. Grandchildren include Briana and Kaylie Locascio-Collipp and step grandchildren Brennan, Dillon and Julieanna Bice.