It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Professor Bruce Middlecoat in Bloemfontein on the 26th of May 2021.
Born in Cape Town on 7 November 1944, his family moved to Johannesburg where Bruce became the youngest member of the JHB library. He was 5 years old and could already read. He attended PBHS from 1957 – 1961. In his own words, Bruce admitted that he underperformed in matric due to pouring all his energy into the schools production of “Julius Caesar” (Bruce performed the role of Mark Anthony).
Bruce had one ambition in life, he wanted to teach and he ended up teaching future doctors. He studied medicine and qualified MBChB (Pret) 1967. MMED (PATH)(Pret) 1973, and FCPATH (SA) Anat 2000. After qualifying as a pathologist, the University of the Western Cape offered him a post and he became the youngest medical professor in South Africa at the time.
Bruce married the love of his life, Estelle, and they had 4 daughters by the time they moved to Bloemfontein, where he accepted the position as Head of the Anatomical Pathology Department at the University of the Free State. Bruce was a magnificent lecturer and won the prize for the best under graduate lecturer on numerous occasions.
Estelle passed on in 2014, Bruce was devastated. He sadly developed cancer after Estelle’s death but still taught until three weeks before he passed away.
Bruce was a God fearing man. He was also a lay preacher at the Anglican Cathedral for many years.
Bruce, what a man!!!! He loved his pipe, his books, gardening and a decent bottle of red. We shall miss you Bruce. RIP.
Rolf Trichard
Bloemfontein
Class of 1959
