Recently the Vermont tourism community and the Barre granite industry suffered a great loss with the death of my colleague and friend Bruce Talbot. I first met Bruce when he was the public relations director for the Barre Granite Association, an advertising consortium for the Barre granite industry founded in the 1890s to promote the quality of Barre granite and the excellent craftsmanship of Barre’s stone artisans. As one of Bruce’s duties as PR director there, he became managing editor of Barre Life, a magazine published by the Barre Granite Association highlighting fine monumental work crafted in Barre.  Later he took a position with Basketville, America’s oldest basket-making company and a charter member of the Vermont Attractions Association. During his tenure with Basketville, Bruce organized and oversaw a successful cultural heritage tourism program and remained a visible and beloved member of the Vermont tourism community.

 So Bruce and I began our friendship because we shared ties to the Barre granite industry and to the Vermont tourism community, but it was Bruce’s palpable joy, keen sense of humor and courage in the face of adversity that I admired most about him. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease sixteen years ago, he remained undaunted. The illness spurred him on to found the Vermont Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. He was a highly visible part of the Vermont Parkinson’s community and served on a national level as well, his contributions being recognized when he was named to the first national patients’ advisory council of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation in 2007.  Despite the relentless progression of his disease, Bruce remained warm, loving and humorous.

 At about this time last year, Bruce was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. His wife shared that his initial reaction to the fatal diagnosis was “I’ve had a wonderful life.”  He proceeded with treatments to slow its progression. He endured treatments that sickened him. His memory began to betray him and frailty overtook his body, but he remained joyful and peaceful throughout his eleven-month struggle that ended late in January.

 Bruce’s life is a testimony to us all of what a life well lived looks like. I will miss him personally. His absence leaves a deep hole in the Vermont tourism community that is mitigated only by the memory of his vibrancy, humor and joy.

For Bruce’s complete obituary, please visit: 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesargus/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-b-talbot&pid=148291816

For more information about the Vermont Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, please visit:

http://www.parkinsonsvt.org/

~Todd

Todd Paton has more than 20 years of experience working in the Vermont tourism industry. Currently the Director of Visitor Services for Rock of Ages, one of Vermont's oldest, continuously operating attractions, he has served on the board of directors of the Central Vermont Chamber and the Vermont Hospitality Council. He is an active member of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Vermont Tourism Network. He is a past Chair and current member of the board of directors of Vermont Attractions Association, a consortium of Vermont attractions established in 1956 to promote the highest standards of hospitality among Vermont's tourism-related properties.