When Bruce Cleland passed away in August of 2021 after a long and valiant battle with cancer, he left a deep void in both his family and our Y community. In the over 18 months since then, his presence remains with us in ways both mysterious and real. At the Y, those of us who knew and loved him feel his presence every time we walk through the doors of the Orokawa Y in Towson, which is in many ways, the “House that Bruce Built.”
Last night, over 60 of us gathered at the Orokawa Y to “out” Bruce and his incredible family as the driving spirit behind the beautiful Y in Towson, which bears the name of their family foundation. Heretofore, most people didn’t know the story behind the uniquely-named building in which they enjoyed spending time. We unveiled a large plaque that now prominently hangs in the Y, paying tribute to Bruce Cleland and his family and explaining both who he and they are and why they care so deeply about not just our organization and the building but about our mission of being for all.
While such an event might be expected and well-deserved to celebrate anyone as generous as he, Bruce was no ordinary man, and the devotion those he touched felt for him was palpable in the room.
When I first started in my job as CEO of the Y in Central Maryland in 2006, I was told that Bruce was someone I needed to meet, as he was an active and engaged member, volunteer, and donor who also happened to have a very cool accent. In preparing to speak to him, I'd read up on his background, a New Zealander whose career in global finance eventually brought him and his family to settle in Baltimore. I thought that he might be an interesting guy to chat with. Little did I know that one doesn’t simply “chat” with Bruce when the subject is the future of the Y. Peering at me from across his office desk, I was interrogated (in a very good way!) by an intensely curious and deeply intelligent person who was focused and unrelenting in his questions about what my plans were, how I was going to achieve them, and how I was going to get a new Y built in Towson sooner rather than later!
But the thing that separated Bruce from some other very successful, bright folks one might encounter in that circumstance was that he actually listened, gave me some grace for my relative lack of experience at the time, and committed to being a big part of the solution.
Having had fond memories of his hometown Y in Wellington, New Zealand, and being deeply committed to helping those who need a hand up, it has been our good fortune that Bruce and his family have been invested in the Y’s mission for a long time. Bruce Cleland’s engagement in the Y wasn’t casual by any means. As his eldest daughter Sam recalled at the event last night, he frequently showed up at the Orokawa Y in flip flops or bare feet, ready to jump into a group exercise class on a moment's notice. He often spent time after his workout sitting in the lobby chatting up anyone who walked by and ended up accumulating a dizzying array of friends over the years. As Sam put it, she felt that the Y was "Bruce's church." It was where he found comfort from the community and he soaked it in with characteristic modesty and good humor.
We miss you, Bruce. You were one of a kind. Happily, your spirit lives on in your loving family and the Orokawa Y.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland