WILMINGTON — Lt. Cmdr. William Bruce Smithson, USNR took his final flight on April 28, 2025, after a slow drift into the fog of Alzheimer’s. True to form, he left without a fuss, binoculars close by, and probably still muttering about the proper Latin name of some warbler.
Born and raised in Beverly MA – the oldest of the five Smithson boys – he met his future wife Patti in 9th grade Latin class. Conjugating Latin verbs was so much fun!
Fresh out of Brown University, shiny new Ensign bars pinned thanks to a ROTC scholarship, and freshly hitched to the love of his life, Bruce and Patti launched into married life in Pensacola FL. Eventually, he had wings on his chest, a throttle in his hand, and a Cold War mission: track sneaky Russian subs under the North Atlantic which were frequently joint NATO exercises. And some wildly entertaining tales involving the Royal Norwegian Air Force that he swore were true (jury’s still out).
With his growing entourage, which now included two delightful mini-mes, Will and Holly (both of whom proudly inherited Bruce’s uncanny ability to always be right and wield sarcasm like a superpower)—the whole crew packed up and crossed the pond for an unforgettable tour of duty in Sicily.
The cast of characters only got better: the family eventually grew to include Will’s delightful wife, Abby (who fits right in with the Smithsons, God help her), and the indomitable Pearce—Bruce’s beloved grandson and junior partner in crime.
Back in the states and out of the cockpit, Bruce traded in planes for trucks, diving into the truck leasing and sales world. The family landed in Wilmington, NC, where they quickly shifted gears, fell in love with the coastal charm, and called Wilmington home for the next 45 years.
Though not a Renaissance Man in the mold of Leonardo da Vinci, Bruce had his moments. Like the time he casually strolled down the Via Condotti, popped into Gucci for boots, then Brioni for a brass-buttoned blazer—never mind the junior officer’s salary. Minimalist by nature, but every now and then, pure flair. Add in his love for the Three Tenors, PBS, the NYT crossword, his razor-sharp wit, and encyclopedic mind, Bruce more than held his own among the best of his peers.
Bruce’s nearly 50 years of birding adventures took him to places most people wouldn’t dream of vacationing—Alaska, Antarctica, Africa, Chile, Colombia, and even the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea (yes, you can see Russia from your backyard). His passion for the rare and elusive led to an unforgettable journey to Utah with Will, searching for the Himalayan woodcock—sighted only at 11,000 feet and at 3:00 a.m. after a punishing climb.
Today, Bruce is one with the rhythm of nature—a place has always known by heart. As the weight of illness quietly pressed in, he heard the gentle call of the skies and, with characteristic grace, accepted the invitation to take his eternal flight.
Memorial contributions are welcomed at the Carolina Bird Club, 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh NC 27612 or Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington NC 28401.
