Bruce Raymond Bacon

Dr. Bacon received his BA at the College of Wooster and received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. He did his internship and residency at Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital and was the Chief Resident in Internal Medicine and Fellow in Hepatology at the Cleveland metropolitan General Hospital. He joined the NIH as a Research Trainee in Gastroenterology and Hematology at Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Bacon began his professional appointments as the Teaching Fellow, Assist. Professor, Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University, the Associate Professor of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics a Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital…, Chief, Section Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport ,LA, Professor of Internal Medicine & Dir. of Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, CO-director of the Abdominal Transplant Program SLU SOM, Co-director at Saint Louis University Liver Center. Once retired in 2020 the Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine for the Div of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at Saint Louis University.

Dr. Bacon served many esteemed professional positions in his life including: Chair, Subspecialty Board on Gastroenterology The American Board of Internal Medicine; Councilor, President-elect & President of American Association of The Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD); Board of Dir. Chronic Liver Disease Foundation; Former Chair, Of the Subspecialty Board on Transplant Hepatology for the American Board of Internal Medicine; Dr, Bacon was instrumental in the creation of Transplant Hepatology as a standalone subspecialty; a Master of the American College of Gastroenterology; Associate Editor for Gastroenterology; Editor in Chief for Current Hepatitis Reports; Board of Dir. Friends of SLU Liver Center; James F. King Endowed Chair in Gastroenterology.

Dr. Bacon received many awards for his hard work and dedication to curing liver disease including the James Kendall Cunningham Memorial Prize Award, the William A. Galpin Award for General Excellence in College Work, the Alpha Omega Award, Upjohn Research Award, the Teaching & Research Scholar Award from American College of Physicians, the Post Doctoral Research Fellow with the American Liver Foundation Award, Peter J. Adam Award for Excellence In Research, the NIH New Investigator Research Award, the Marcel Simon Award for Best Research in Hemochromatosis, Outstanding Chapter Leadership Award for The American Liver Foundation, the AGA /Miles and Shirley Fireman Foundation “Hugh R. Butt” Clinical Research Award in Hepatology, The AASLD Distinguished Service Award, the Caring Physicians Award from Saint Louis University, the Saint Louis Metropolitan Medical Society Award, the Richard B. Teitelman for “The Common Good” Award, the Morton I Grossman Award, Distinguished Lectureship from American Gastroenterology Association.

Dr. Bacon lead by example a hardworking and Master physician who had a huge clinical practice at Saint Louis University Hospital. His larger-than-life persona was internationally and nationally recognized for his expertise in all aspects of clinical hepatology specifically hemochromatosis, viral hepatitis, chronic liver disease general hepatology and liver transplant.

In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Bacon had extensive research interest in hepatic iron metabolism and was a member of the research team which discovered the gene for hemochromatosis, HFE, in 1996. He has extensive experience in a variety of laboratory research protocols involving experimental iron overload, iron induced hepatic toxicity, iron induced organelle damage and the role of iron and fibrogenesis. He was continuously funded by the NIH from 1982 to 2007 for work on iron- induced hepatotoxicity and hepatic fibrogenesis and was either Principal Investigator or Collaborating Investigator on many NIH sponsored grants. He authored or co-authored over 350 articles, reviews and chapters in highly respected journals and was the Co-editor of the textbooks Liver Disease Diagnosis and Management and Comprehensive Clinical Hepatology. At SLU he led the development of clinical trials unit and was instrumental in founding the Friends of The SLU Liver Center, a nonprofit which still provides research support to SLU Liver Center & GI division to this day.

"To friends, patients and colleagues Dr. Bacon was a great human being, physician and someone you could always count on. He was an outstanding physician, educator, researcher and innovator." (Wing-Kin Syn, M.D). Bruce was great husband and partner to his wife Sarah. A great father to his children Jeff and Laurie Bacon. Also a great grandfather to his grandchildren Vivi and Bob Bacon. His loss will be sorely felt by all including his family, friends, colleagues and most especially the patients whose lives he touched. Many owe their lives to him a gift that keeps on giving to them and their families. One of Bruce’s many gifts were his abilities to remember great details about each and every one of his patients, at length.

Bruce is preceded in death by his father, Raymond Bacon & his mother, Cathryn Ella Bacon. Bruce leaves behind his partner and wife of 25 years, Sarah Jacobsmeyer Bacon. Sarah championed his multi responsibilities and professional commitments with her own expertise as Liver Transplant Research Nurse Coordinator. Together they enjoyed traveling to Caribbean beaches with friends and many professional meeting destinations. They humorously called their St. Louis home the Bacon Hotel.

A great joy for both was hosting pool volleyball parties, holiday gatherings and their final move to their Florida home where Sarah passionately cared for Bruce until his final days.

Bruce's smile in life was contagious no matter where and when you met him.

Bruce is survived by his children of his 1st wife Joan Bacon, Jeff (Rachel) Bacon & Laurie (Katherine) Skrivan. Bruce’s Grandchildren Bob & Vivi were the apple to his eyes. Reading to his grandchildren, going to the zoo, swimming, drawing and laughing uncontrollably with them were things he loved most. Bruce’s pride of their young accomplishments with their passions of soccer, theatre, piano (like their great grandma Cathryn) and dancing brought true joy. Bruce’s love for family was enjoyed with his sisters Elizabeth Green (Steve) Miller, Barbara (Denny preceded in death) Hutton. Sarah’s siblings Jeanne (David) Kennedy, Karen Hutsel (Maurice) Erwin, Donald Jacobsmeyer, Jr., Joanie (John) Mankus, David (Michele) Rocchio. Bruce's role as ‘Uncle’ to his many nieces and nephews around the world was one of great pride.

A special thank you to MaryAnn Barrale for her many years of dedicated love, support, administrative management and guidance throughout Bruce’s days. Thank you to Take Care Home Health, The Ranch Assisted Living and Tidewell Hospice House and Robert Toale & Sons Celebration of Life Center for their care in his final days.

It's difficult to find comfort in this loss but Dr. Bacon’s contribution to humanity will outlive our own grief.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to The Friends of The Saint Louis University Liver Center.

The Celebration of Life will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on September 20, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, 1335 S. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63131. The family will receive guest beginning at 12:00 PM with the Celebration of Life Service starting at 2:00 PM.