Bruce Edward Scott

On February 8, 2025, Bruce passed into the arms of God. His life reflected his faith in the way he carried himself as an exemplary husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, businessman and community member. His was a life lived to its fullest, characterized by his innate sense of honor, dignity and, always, sense of humor.

Born 79 years ago at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, he was Edward F. Scott and Bettie (Grusenmeyer) Scott’s eldest of seven children. Tampa was home for virtually his entire life, and he was a proud fourth-generation Floridian.

He loved his boyhood years on Davis Islands, where he had the freedom to ride his bike, build forts on vacant lots, and build boats and rafts that he sailed on the local canals and across the bay towards – no surprise – the all-girls Academy of the Holy Names.

A defining part of Bruce’s childhood was the countless weekends spent at the family cabin on Lake Alice in Odessa with his large, extended family of grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. It was there that he first fished, swam, sailed and water skied, activities that led to a life-long love of the water.

After Jesuit High School, Bruce attended Auburn University, where he majored in engineering and minored in troublemaking. It was at Auburn that he met the love of his life and best friend, Ruth Wynelle (Nelle) Alexander. They were married 55 years until Bruce’s passing.

He spent his career at E.M. Scott General Contractor Inc., a firm started in 1927 by his grandfather Edward M. Scott, and where his father Edward F. and uncle Robert also worked their entire careers. Eventually, the management of the firm was handed off to Bruce and his brother Mark, and together they ran the business for many years. Bruce’s daughter, Michelle, and Mark’s daughter, Amelia, the fourth generation, worked there as well. For some time, E.M. Scott was the oldest continuously operating general contracting firm in Hillsborough County. Bruce finally retired at age 70.

Bruce filled his life with a myriad of activities, including photography, camping, travel, dancing at any party where there was music, and anything to do with water, including sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and lobstering. But family always came first. Combining family and travel, for many summers Bruce, Nelle and the girls spent time in the Florida Keys and at the family beach house on Anna Maria Island. With his sister- and brother-in-law, Michele and Jim Humphrey, he and Nelle went on several RV trips, venturing as far as Alaska and the national parks out West. He also enjoyed his annual legendary “guys’ trips” to the Florida Keys where, during the day, he would fish and dive, and at night dedicate himself to eating, drinking and playing poker.

Bruce gave as good as he got. He was a lifetime member of the Auburn Alumni Association, regularly attended Christ the King Catholic Church and served on the board of Trinity Cafe from its inception until it merged with Feeding Tampa Bay.

In his later years, health problems kept Bruce from engaging in many of his favorite pastimes, but he never stopped enjoying being with family and friends. The family is thankful to those who continued to reach out and include Bruce in their activities, and is also grateful to pdLIFE and its free programs for those with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers.

Bruce is survived by his wife Nelle; daughters Michelle Begue (Michael Dunn) and Nicole Jones (Lewis); grandchildren Katherine Begue, Hannah Hulett (Joey), Draven Begue, Owen Begue, Caitlin Jones and Robert (Trip) Jones; and siblings Mark Scott (Linda Turnipseed), Vickie Horowitz (Alan), Julie Scott Ross (Ken Arnold), and Greg Scott (Tammy). He was predeceased by his parents, sister Beverly (Bunny) Scott and brother Steven Scott. He would have been overjoyed to learn he was to become a great-grandfather as his granddaughter Hannah is due to have twins later this year.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating to pdLIFE or Feeding Tampa Bay. For information on donating, please visit their websites: Parkinsonlife.org and click on “Donate Now,” or feedingtampabay.org and click on “Donate.”

Rest in peace, dear Bruce. Your legacy of love and kindness will never be forgotten.

A visitation for Bruce will be held Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Blount & Curry MacDill Chapel 605 S MacDill Ave Tampa, FL 33609. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Monday, February 24, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609. A committal will take place at 3:00 PM at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4202 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.