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It was a sad day, June 5th, when the balloon world learned of the passing of Linda Bruce. Linda and her husband, Louie Bruce, would have celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary the very next day on June 6th. Linda was born in San Francisco 59 years ago and had been a resident of Petaluma, CA ever since she was a young girl.
In 1981 Linda Bruce started a home based balloon delivery and decorating company in Petaluma, California when her children, Eryn and Frank, were babies.
In 1982 she attended a 2-day balloon course taught by Jim Parker of the Red Balloon Company. That course changed the way she looked at balloons forever. It inspired her to take advantage of all the education she could find. Before long she found herself sub-contracting for the Pioneer Balloon Company as an instructor for Qualatex.
In 1999, after 18 years as owner/operator of B & C Balloon Company, she sold her business in order to work full time for Pioneer Balloon Company, and became their Retail Education Manager.
She has received many awards for her expertise in balloon decorating. One of her awards was the Crystal award which is presented to someone that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the balloon industry. This is someone that, during his or her career, has contributed to the advancement of the balloon industry.
Linda's Awards:
1983 NABA: 1st Place Portfolio Competition
1985 NABA: 1st Place Large Sculpture
1985 Balloon Council: Environmental Award
2003 IBAC: Crystal Award
2007 Summer Balloon Camp: Dottie Blanchard Spirit Award
For years I had seen photos of Linda Bruce and read her name in the Images magazine. I had often seen information about her on the Internet, so I knew who she was. I first met her in person at a balloon convention. And from that first encounter, I knew she was a kindred spirit. She was easy to talk to and it seemed like I had known her all my life. That was how she came across, as an instant friend. I enjoyed chatting, joking and swapping balloon stories with her. I had the pleasure to work with Linda on one of the Balloon Manor projects. She brought her years of balloon expertise and creativity to the event and helped to solve design problems. She was professional, friendly and a world class balloon artist. When I first heard that she had pancreatic cancer I knew her chances would be slim. And I began praying for her healing. But God's plan was to take her home. Just a few days before her passing I heard that she had decided to stop her cancer treatments and just keep her pain management. It was so she could have quality time with her family with her remaining days. In her honor, I wrote the poem below.
Today many decorators and twisters must be shedding a tear,
For a great balloon artist has passed on, someone quite dear.
She was special, blessed and had a heart of pure gold,
For her aim was making people happy, which never got old.
She was trained and proficient in all the balloon arts,
And she used them faithfully in lifting up hearts.
This lady was noble, kind, happy, a person of worth.
Her trademark was love, sharing, caring and mirth.
A balloon artist's value is not merely measured by awards, kudos and balloon art.
But rather by their actions and caring, prompted by God's love in their heart.
Now she is up in heaven surrounded by God's love, music and angelic tunes,
But I'm wondering if she might be thinking, "This place could use some balloons!"
Linda Bruce stood above all the rest and was a balloon hero in our midst.
The balloon world has lost a great talent and she will be genuinely missed.
Below are a few comments from some of her many friends.
Some of us have balloon friends and some of us have friends that also happen to do balloons. My dear, close, lovely friend of more than twenty years, Linda Bruce began as balloon acquaintance but almost instantly became one of my most cherished friends.
I have been privileged to travel the world with her while she did what she loved most of all--and better than anyone else--teaching balloon design to thousands and thousands of balloon artists. She has and will continue to inspire students with the educational programs she appears in, and her designs that have become classics for our industry.
Another speaker compared us once to peanut butter and jelly and I'm pretty sure as sweet as she was, that she was the jelly part. We broke class attendance records at IBAC with over 500 students for our special team taught class, watched each other receive the IBAC Crystal Award and shared our business and personal lives throughout the years. What a beautiful friendship she so generously offered.
No one can tell a story better, listen so well, care as much, or play pranks as wonderfully on the friends she has loved as Linda. I carry wonderful memories that continue to make me smile even though I will always miss her.
Jan Iiams
Linda was a truly amazing person to work with. She always shared what she knew and she was always open to new challenges. I got to know her over the years through IBAC and Balloon Camp, but I won't ever forget how she brought a completely different style to Balloon Manor. We used to joke about how to make Halloween pink and frilly so that she could work comfortably during the event. Despite the jokes, she said the best part of the event for her was the opportunity to work outside of her comfort zone where she was forced to learn new things. And that's how I remember Linda. She didn't like just being comfortable using what she knew. She always wanted to learn and create more so that she could make an impact on whatever she worked on and with whomever she worked.
Larry Moss
Linda lived in the moment, with a sincere smile and a kind heart she put a positive spin on whatever she was doing. When working with her at Balloon Manor we drove off in search of metallic sheets so she could create a 'mirror' and Linda shared some of how she came to be with Pioneer, her past business ventures as well as her family. We were pressed for time to get back to the project but we had so much fun because Linda had a knack for dealing with the task at hand with total grace.
Linda only had to meet you once to call you friend and embodied all that we need to strive for in our industry and our personal lives. To honor Linda I pledge to be brave in the face of adversity, mix media into my balloon decor, freely share my talent, time and laughter.
Sincerely, Nancy Goethel
Party Productions
