On what would have been his 79th birthday, former WICH newsman Bruce MacDonald was remembered on June 29 by friends, loved ones and former colleagues as a warm, kind, humble man who was devoutly committed to his community and those within it who were most in need.

Lest anyone think, however, that Bruce took life — or himself — too seriously. We all remember rolling our eyes at his corny humor, and no one could light up a party like he could with his Woody Woodpecker impersonation.

Between his days in the 1960s at WICH and his passing this year on June 1, Bruce worked and volunteered in many roles and capacities, accomplishing a lot professionally, domestically and civically. Many people talk of doing good for good causes. Bruce was the exception who actually did it, not for glory or recognition, but because it was the right thing to do in whatever community he lived. After a long and successful career in journalism and public relations, he could have done what many of us retirees do — kick back, travel, take long walks, golf, enjoy sunsets and sunrises and read a few good books.

Instead, he and his wife, Gail, whom he met in 1981 while they both worked at The Day, dedicated themselves to community service on a variety of fronts.

In addition to WICH, he was also an intrepid newsman at radio stations WERI in Westerly and WDRC in Hartford, The Day, The Bulletin and USA Today.

We were friends and colleagues during our newsroom years together in the 1980s. I eventually succeeded him as The Day’s police reporter, and his were very big shoes to fill.

“How’s Bruce MacDonald?” was an inquiry I’d get everywhere I went as police reporter, from front desks at various police stations to the scenes of homicides and traffic accidents. Everyone had good things to say about Bruce.

WICH radio icon Stu Bryer, his best friend for more than a half-century since their radio days together, remembers Bruce returning from covering an accident with blood on his clothes. He had assisted first responders in caring for one of the victims while he was covering the story.

That was the kind of guy he was. If someone — anyone — or more likely any group of people needed help, Bruce would be in a three-point stance, ready to lead and/or support the effort. If he said he’d recruit more help, make phone calls, raise money or send out press releases for any of the many good causes he supported, you could take it to the bank.

If there was a good cause to support, you’d likely find Bruce leading the pack, whether it was the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, where he served as president for many years, to New London Rotary, which named him its president posthumously despite his joining the club only four years earlier. He had made such a positive impact in his few short years in New London that state Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London, Mayor Michael Passero, City Council President Efrain Dominguez, Jr., former Mayor Bill Satti, and former Democratic Town Chairman Kevin Cavanagh were among the approximately 150 people who turned out on June 29 at the Rotary Pavilion at Ocean Beach Park to remember him.

Nolan and Passero presented proclamations from the General Assembly and City of New London, respectively, which is pretty impressive for a guy who’d only lived in New London a short time.

“If you were in a foxhole, there’s no one you’d want beside you more going into battle than Bruce MacDonald,” Passero said.

Rep. Nolan, who is also a New London police officer, recalled recruiting Bruce to help raise money for unprivileged children in the city for clothes and field trips. That kind of work was right up Bruce’s alley, and countless city kids were the beneficiaries.

Earlier, Bruce had also volunteered as a board member for the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (SCADD), Haitian Health Foundation, and Haitian Ministries of the Norwich Diocese. There was no limit to the good he would do when he was recruited or saw a need.

Indeed, during his relatively brief residence in New London, Bruce served dinner at the New London Community Meal Center, and volunteered for the Homeless Hospitality Center, the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation, the Democratic Town Committee and was the city’s representative on the Eastern Connecticut Tourism Board, where he served as secretary. After leaving The Day in the 1980s, Bruce worked for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe as press spokesman and editor of the tribal newspaper. Later, he would do communications work for the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, whose longtime president, Tony Sheridan, also spoke of Bruce’s work ethic and dedication to community.

Until his passing, only those closest to him knew the breadth and depth of his good works. That was how Bruce preferred it. He didn’t worry about being recognized. There was too much work to be done, and our community is better for his being part of it.

Rest in peace, Bruce, after a life of hard work and good service well-lived.

Bill Stanley, a former vice president at L+M Hospital, grew up in Norwich.