Born in Englewood, Bruce grew up in Cliffside Park and lived in Newark and Maplewood before moving to Fredon in 1996. He was a graduate of Cliffside Park High School and Montclair State University, where he met his first wife, Maureen Norton, whom he married in 1968. He was drafted and served in the Army for two years, stationed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Bruce began his career at Columbia High School in 1969 where he taught physical education and driver’s education. Bruce, along with Lenny Klepack, created the girl’s track program in 1975 that went on to become and continues to be one of the best girl’s track programs in the country. He also coached soccer at Columbia High School under Gene Chyzowych. Bruce later taught and coached at Spotswood and Morris Hills/Morris Knolls high schools as well as Seton Hall University. Even after leaving education for a successful thirty-year career in financial planning, he continued to volunteer his time to coach and mentor young athletes in track and cross country. Locally in Fredon, he founded The Polar Bears Track & Field Club where he worked with hundreds of Sussex County youth. He married his second wife, Virginia Ong Morgan, in 1993. He was a member of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church and served on the church’s governing board. He was an active participant in the Fredon Township community.
The son of the late Seymour and Helen (Moler) Wask, Bruce was predeceased by his first wife, Maureen (Norton) Wask in 1987, his second wife, Virginia (Ong Morgan) Wask in 2012, and his grandson, Andrew Romeo in 2016. He is survived by his brother, Craig Wask and wife, Joanne, of Forked River; his son, Daniel Wask and wife, Donna, of Wantage; his daughter, Katherine Bittner and husband, Michael, of Bangor, Pennsylvania; his daughter, Sarah Morgan Geldhof and husband, Dante, of Kent, Ohio; ten grandchildren, Veronica, Kelly, Randi-Marie, Daniel, Jonathan, Alexandra, Mark, Luke, Indiana, and Tigerlily.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton. A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, July 30, 2021 at Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church, One Yellow Frame Road, Fredon Township. Interment will follow at Yellow Frame Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Fredon Volunteer Fire Company, 443A Route 94, Newton, NJ 07860.
