Bruce Alden Richardson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bruce Alden Richardson on April 27, 2022.

Bruce was born August 3, 1934 in Oakland, CA and grew up in Berkeley, CA in a 3-generational household which included his parents, John Alden and Marjorie (Locke) Richardson, younger sister, Joyce, and grandparents Leon and Maude Richardson. Bruce graduated from Berkeley High School in 1951.

He received a math scholarship to Kenyon College in Ohio, where he was president of his fraternity and a member of the championship swim team. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in Political Science and a minor in French in 1955.

After graduation he served 4 years in the Navy where he flew a carrier-based helicopter in Helicopter Squadron 4 (HSC-4) tasked with anti-submarine warfare objectives including the first squadron to be authorized to carry nuclear depth charges. He received a Silver "S" award from the Sikorsky Corporation for a sea rescue. He retired at the rank of Lt. Commander.

Bruce graduated third in his class from UC Berkeley's School of Law (previously known as Boalt Hall) in 1962. He was an editor of the Law Review and was offered to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg; but instead chose a quieter path and moved to Watsonville with his first wife, Berta (Bogan) Richardson whom he married in 1959.

In Watsonville he was reunited with his Aunt Florence (Richardson) Wyckoff and began his law practice working for his uncle, Hubert Wyckoff at the firm Wyckoff, Parker, Boyle and Pope (later Wyckoff, Richardson, Sanson, Allen and Locke Paddon).

In addition to serving as the firm's managing partner he did a 12-year stint on the PVUSD School Board (including two terms as president), in which he was able to hand his 2 children their high school diplomas. He also served on the Water Board, and the boards of several local corporations and nonprofits. He was named "Man of the Year" in 1988 by the Watsonville Chamber of Commerce and in the 1990s was recognized for his pro-bono work.

He married his second wife, Diane (Pecchenino) Richardson in 1985, and after the closing of the law firm in 1996, they moved to Oregon. Throughout his life, Bruce enjoyed travel, golf, bridge and gardening.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Joyce Wilson and his niece, Martha Sparks. He leaves his wife, Diane, of Gresham, OR; as well as his daughter, Lisa Richardson of Los Gatos, CA; son and daughter-in-law Keith and Thresa Richardson (Powell) of Canyon Country, CA; along with grandchildren, Dr. Casey Richardson of Gunnison, CO and Cory Bowdish of Los Gatos, CA; step-grandchildren Shaina and Jordan Katz, as well as nieces and nephews.

His family, pets, and gardens remember his tender care. They are forever grateful and will miss and love

him forever.

Published in The Pajaronian · May 27, 2022