Dr William R Brueckheimer

Surrounded by family members and loved ones, Dr. William Rogers Brueckheimer of Tallahassee died on May 31, 2015. He was born in Gary, Indiana on August 19, 1921, where he lived until adulthood. His biological parents, William Albert Rogers and Allene (Endicott) Rogers died when he was a young child. He was raised by Albert Gustav Brueckheimer and Lucille (Schwartz) Brueckheimer who he thought of as his father and mother. At the age of twelve, he met the love of his life and future wife, Mary Ellen (Roe) Brueckheimer. Childhood sweethearts, the romantic marriage of Bill and Mary Ellen (November 7, 1942) lasted over 70 years.

Dr. Brueckheimer attended Wabash College in Crawfordville, Indiana for one year before enlisting in the United States Army upon his country’s entry into World War II. He served in the United States Army, predominantly in the European Theater, from 1942 – 1946. Upon his honorable discharge from the service, he attended the University of Chicago where he received a Masters Degree in Social Sciences. Subsequently, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he received a Masters Degree and a Doctorate Degree in Geography.

A dedicated educator, researcher and writer, Dr. Brueckheimer embarked on a distinguished academic career. In 1949, he moved to Tallahassee, Florida with Mary Ellen and his first child, William Rogers Brueckhemer, Jr. An instructor in Geography at Florida State University from 1949 to 1951, he developed a life- long love for Tallahassee and Florida State University. Although he had to leave Tallahassee in furtherance of his education and career, he and his beloved wife longed to return some day to Tallahassee.

Dr. Brueckheimer was a Professor and Head of the Department of Geography and Geology at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he lived from 1955 to 1964. In 1964 he got the opportunity to return to Florida State University and Tallahassee, Florida as Chairman of the Geography Department. He taught at Florida State University from 1964 until his retirement in 1990. During this time he also served as Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Social Science from 1979 -1985, and he was the first Director of the London Study Center from 1971 – 1972.

Dr. Brueckheimer was a member of the Florida Governor’s Resource Use Education Committee from 1964 to 1971. He was a member of the Advisory Board of Tall Timbers Research, Inc., and a Henry L. Beadel Fellow at Tall Timbers Research Station during the summers of 1973 -1992. An accomplished writer, Dr. Brueckheimer was a contributor to the Atlas of Florida, 1981. His writings also included Leon County Hunting Plantations (1988), and The Legacy of A Red Hills Hunting Plantation (2012), which was co-authored by Robert L. Crawford.

Dr. Brueckheimer was a member of many professional and lay organizations including the Royal Geography Society, the Association of American Geographers , and the Leon County Society Of Geography and Anthropology. He particularly enjoyed being a member of the USTA Club (a club celebrating the accomplishments that its members “used to” do). Dr. Brueckheimer was a Presbyterian and a humanitarian. His family, friends and acquaintances were blessed to know a man with such rarely seen honesty, such a devotion to teaching to make a difference, such kind and thoughtful ways, and such an earnest dedication to humbly helping those less fortunate.

Dr. Brueckheimer was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Sanford “Sonny” Brueckheimer, his daughter –in –law, Deborah Kucer Brueckheimer and his beloved wife, Mary Ellen (Roe) Brueckheimer. He is survived by his children, William Rogers Brueckheimer, Jr., (Patricia Vidzes Brueckheimer), David Rogers Brueckheimer and Suzanne Rogers Brueckheimer Zea (Leonardo Zea); his grandchildren, April B. Dean (Robert Carlton Dean), Lee Brueckheimer, and Mary Ellen Zea; as well as his great grandchildren Rylee Jean Brueckheimer, Ava Lee Brueckheimer, Carlton Backer Dean and Robert Balee Dean.

You are encouraged to write any comments you would like to make on his Facebook page at https://www. Facebook.com/William.brueckheimer or on the website of Culley ‘s MeadowWood Funeral Home-Dignity Memorial m.dignitymemorial .com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, 13093 Henry Beadel Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32312.