Greetings. I'm Eric Litman, I'm an Internet entrepreneur, investor and executive, and I run a mobile ad and analytics company called 
Bruce Waldack
Published by Eric Litman on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 7:25am
Bruce Michael Waldack, my good friend, cohort and colleague for the past 16 years, died this past weekend at his home in Buenos Aires. He was a bright star who burned out well before his time, and I’ll miss him dearly.
Update 7/17/07: I’ve posted photos of the memorial and wake.
Update 7/5/07: Memorial services will be held next Tuesday, July 10, from 1-3 PM at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. (Map and directions)
UPDATE: If you knew Bruce and would like to share any thoughts or a message feel free to use the comments here. This post has been getting quite a bit of search traffic from Google over the past few days so I am guessing others might want to talk about this.
I’ll update this post with information about a service/memorial once plans have been set.
[tags]bruce waldack,thruport,digitalnation[/tags]
Federico Ini on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
Eric, just head about Bruce’s death. I´m just assimilating the punch. We are going to miss him too. http://www.federicoini.com.ar/2007/06/my-dear-friend.html
Scott Bethke on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
Eric, long time no see.. you know I had no idea the last time I saw bruce would be the last time.. Unfortunately for me that was in 2003. I spoke with him last year and he said everything was going great. Very sad to see him go so young. He taught me so much.
Dave Helmly (Adobe Dave) on Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
Bruce was a longtime friend to several of his key vendors in the early days of his Apple Sales and Service business CSG. Plain and simple for me, Bruce was one of those guys that was great to spend time with. Anyone who went to his KC and Sunshine band party knew his generosity and big heart. I’ll certainly miss him.
DKH
Jeff Johnson on Thursday, June 28th, 2007
Eric and friends….
Bruce’s life was an epic adventure… and as his friends know, he’s created many epic adventures in the lives of others.
Bruce has been in my life for 25 years, our adventures started with cross-country travel (skipping school) when I was 15 years old. We’ve traveled the world, the adventures have been incredible…
Over the last month, we were talking almost daily… Bruce had been concerned over the health of his family… and he was feeling his mortality. Maybe inside, he knew something was wrong.
A quote from Bruce, the topic of which some may know:
“I’m just finishing God’s work”
If you were a friend of Bruce’s, feel free to call, email or chat.
Jeff
202-448-9608
813-649-8614
email and AIM: jdj@mac.com
Rodney Loges on Thursday, June 28th, 2007
Bruce lived large and was a great teacher of life. His laugh will always be
remembered.
April on Thursday, June 28th, 2007
It was like he knew he was saying goodbye the past few months. We spoke everyday up until the night before he fell asleep, for the last time, and never woke up. I am thankful it was painless and peaceful. But I hate that he was alone. And it’s just not natural for (his) mother to lose a child, especially a mother that has beat cancer. It is sad, that for whatever the reasons, he died without his boy’s or his loved ones near. His children won’t hear him tell stories about when they were younger, and when they saw a plane they always said “daddy’s plane?” I hate that he won’t be able to tell them daddy stories. Because those who knew him knew he coud tell a great story.
We had met many years ago, and it was like something out of a fairytale. Over the years I became accustomed not to talk about how we met because most people would probably doubt that how we came to meet was make believe. Bruce, a whirlwind of a man, came into my life like he was on a white horse, except of course Bruce was on a Gulfstream (I think that’s what it was called). I would tell him, I am almost a doctor. I didn’t need him to take care of me, or any man for that matter. But with Bruce I wanted him in my life forever, as my friend. I really thought that he would be in my life forever. His friendship meant more to me than anything the past few years.
I really just cannot believe he is gone. I have been in shock for days. He called me every day for the past few months. Just the day before he died he said “I love you and miss you”………I know I am lucky to have told him the very same. That was before I knew it would be our last conversation. It was strange that over the past few weeks, and after all these years, that he insisted that I get to know his mother. He said “if you don’t have a mom I want you share mine.” He had a tough time dealing with me losing so much during my cancer, and then when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, as well as the many other struggles and illnesses he and his family and his life that followed. He may have pissed some people off, but that’s not my concern, because all I know is what a friend he was to me, and how he loved and treated me. I don’t know anyone who can get through their life not having any regrets. When I couldn’t answer his calls, he would say “you frustrate the hell out of me” and then he would laugh! If you knew his laugh you can hear it now. But, I could tell he didn’t feel well and he sounded homesick. He might have had some regrets in life, but having his sons was his proudest achievement. I don’t know many people who can say they have lived their life without changing some things. He couldn’t deal with seeing me bald from chemotherapy, hell, I couldn’t deal with that either. It will be a long while until I stop jumping (maybe it’s hoping) when the phone rings thinking that it will him saying “you frustrate the hell out of me (laughter)”Having Bruce in my life was a gift and it will never be the same without him.
ALK
Randi on Friday, June 29th, 2007
I knew Bruce by proxy through April. April always had the most wonderful and funny stories to tell about Bruce and I did have the opportunity to speak to him on the phone and email him. I know he was a wonderful person just because of the way he treated my friend April. Everyone should know a man like Bruce and carry a little piece of him in their heart. Bruce will be missed by many.
David Katz on Sunday, July 1st, 2007
Bruce was an older brother to me these past couple of years – I don’t know many of his other friends or family well but know that there are many of you out there that miss him as much as I do now. He taught me that to live out of the box is the only way to really live. Jeez I will miss him so much. I can go on and on with stories and good times we had, and maybe will later, but now just sitting here crying, wishing I could hear his voice one more time and tell him how much he meant to me.
My condolences and best wishes to his family and children – he loved you so much and told me that every day I was down in Buenos Aires with him. I hope you find comfort somehow – I know it will take me a long time……….
If anyone wants to just talk and share shoulders to cry on my phone number is 917-797-5048 and e-mail is davidk218@aol.com – DK
Nina Fenn on Monday, July 2nd, 2007
Hello Eric, I am so glad you started this site! I kept in close contact with Bruce and am deeply saddened by his loss.I was supposed to see him this week. Bruce was a very unique and admirabile person. I learned so much from him. My son and myself would not have traveled to where we traveled, learned what we learned ,and had the lifes expierences we had. I met Bill Clinton with him! I have some photos to share but do not have a website yet. Let me know where to send them. The world will definitly not be the same place without you Bruce. May your spirit live on through your 2 beautiful boys Colton and Cooper, and through your friends and family. We will all miss you…. with love Nina Anne Fenn
Nina Fenn on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
Hello again friends and family. I wanted to let everyone know that I started a myspace memoria for brucel. I would love if you all came and added comments, blog, stories and music. I am just getting it statrted so go easy on me here. I am not a internet guru..lol Well go to myspace and type in bruce waldack under name search. Or email is ninafenn@gmail.com. I suppose it would help if i gave you all the url… well I am not that savy..lol please drop by the myspace page. The blog comments are all the silly sayings bruce signed off on his emails. If anyone has suggestions let me know. ninafenn@gmail.com
EDIT: here’s the link: http://www.myspace.com/208491143
Eric Litman on Thursday, July 5th, 2007
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their thoughts. For those of you who may not yet know, memorial services have been set for Tuesday, July 10 from 1-3PM at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. I added links in the post above.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone there.
John Simmons on Sunday, July 8th, 2007
It has been my distinct good fortune to know Bruce Waldack since Febuary 1989. I began a 15 year work/love association including Desktop Publishing, Computer Services Group , digitalNATION, and Thruport. I am happy to have told Bruce many times how grateful I was to be able to be in the Waldack Family. For that is the atmosphere that made His companies great. Truly a feel of belonging to more than an employment or a place of business was mission . What Bruce did for me those many years is considerable an appreciated . His ability to attract and keep entertaining, articulate, hard working fun people was legendary. So much fun did we have in those years. So many great people did I have the fortune to meet and to work with. Some of my best days were spent making life a little better for the customers and clients of Bruce Waldack . I got to know a lot of Bruce’s friends and I know how well he treated them and how much he is missed. My sincerest condolences to all.
Chris Wade on Tuesday, July 10th, 2007
I will always be indebted to Bruce for giving me opportunities that very few other people would have. I learned a lot from him. While I had not seen him in quite some time, I can still hear him barking my name out from down the hall.
Time with him was an adventure and you never knew where the next adventure would lead.
He could walk into any bar in any country and make a friend in 10 minutes. In the next 10 minutes that new friend would owe him a drink for a lost bar game bet.
It is sad to see him go so young.
Curt Broskey on Monday, July 16th, 2007
I met Bruce through Jeff Johnson. Jeff has been like a brother to me and Bruce was like a brother to him. Hanging with the both of them together for the short time I did was so much fun. I remember sitting at Bruce’s desk with him at his house drinking a bottle of red wine. Bruce asked me if I ever heard of the wine we were drinking. Of course I had no clue, but he looking it up on google. He showed me it was a 1500.00 bottle of wine. He asked me what I thought of the wine. Being honest as I always am, I said it tasted like shit and he wasted his money… Bruce grabbed the bottle and through it out the window.. He said, “your right.. go grab another bottle bottle”.. There were many other time we all hung out but this one was the one I remembered, mainly because I got a chance to really sit with Bruce a lone and find out about him. Even though I didn’t hang with Bruce as much as some, he really made a impression on me. One other time I spoke to Bruce was the time I was living with JJ in Florida, not to get to personal but JJ was going through a rough time and Bruce actually called me from where he was living over seas, just to make sure JJ was doing OK… That to me, him calling was a testimonial to what a real friend will do for another friend. Bruce was a great man and he will never be forgotten. I have been looking for a poem that I once saw that would totally describe Bruce and the way he touches people lives… here is what I found…I hope this is appropriate..
SOME PEOPLE
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
Some people come into our lives
and quickly go… Some stay for awhile
and embrace our silent dreams.
They help us become aware
of the delicate winds of hope…
and we discover within every human spirit
there are wings yearning to fly.
They help our hearts to see that
the only stairway to the stars
is woven with dreams…
and we find ourselves
unafraid to reach high.
They celebrate the true essence
of who we are…
and have faith in all
that we may become.
Some people awaken us
to new and deeper realizations…
for we gain insight
from the passing whisper of their wisdom
Throughout our lives we are sent
precious souls…
meant to share our journey
however brief or lasting their stay
they remind us why we are here.
To learn… to teach… to nurture… to love
Some people come into our lives
to cast a steady light
upon our path and guide our every step
their shining belief in us
helps us to believe in ourselves.
Some people come into our
lives to teach us about love…
The love that rests within ourselves.
Let us reach out to others
and feel the bliss of giving
for love is far richer in action
that it ever is in words.
Some people come into our lives
and they move our souls to sing
and make our spirits dance.
They help us to see that everything on earth
is part of the incredibility of life…
and that it is always there
for us to take of its joy.
Some people come into our lives
and leave footprints on our hearts
and we are never ever the same.
~by Flavia Weedn~
patricia monteiro on Sunday, July 29th, 2007
ok..I go way way back in Bruce’s life. We met in college (undergrad) and became quick friends. He, my younger sister, and I traveled to Europe in the early 80’s. We kept in touch over the years, but hadn’t seen each other in too, too long.
My Christams card came back to me this last Christams and I made it a goal to reach out to him to MAKE SURE this would be the year we reunited and really caught up…so looking forward to it. Tried and couldn’t reach him. Little did I know he was just weeks away from leaving all of us.
His name came out of my mouth this past weekend and my husband looked him up. I was and am in shock. My heart is heavy. I knew him when he was 18, 19, 20,…etc. Even then, he was so loveable. Clearly, Bruce was no ordinary young man. So smart, brave, and so funny. We could make each other laugh until we hurt. Our connection was always platonic and I just loved him.
I can’t repeat a story that happened on the train through Switzerland, but the boy made my sister, Elizabeth and I laugh so hard that the stroy has been repeated over the years. He was crazy funny and I am so grateful for our friendship.
I can’t believe that my overwhelming feeling that I needed to connect with my old friend Bruce resulted in my finding out this very sad news.
My sympathies to his family and to the friends I have never met.
John Simmons on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
Bruce,
Yesterday was your Birthday. I thought of you all day. You meant so much to me and I miss you. I am comforted by the kind people who thought so much of you and By the two Eric’s websites that giveme and others this venue to express our thoughts. The big hole in Rita’s heart is also in mine. I planted a garden in your memory and will keep it growing in rememberance and respect. You used to tell me that business was like surfing, wait for the right wave enjoy the ride and pull out befor you reach shore. Now that you have reached the shore in a cellestial way, I hope that there is peace and a chance for you to influence other souls in the positive way that you have done for me.
I love you big guy,
John Simmons
suz on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
Is this one of Bruces sick jokes?
John Simmons on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
No Suz,
Just a sick at heart friend who can never email or talk to him again.
Eric,
Forgive me for responding to this person this way
suz on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
Bruce was a game player especially with women
i havnt seen anything concrete regarding his death
i do not believe it as yet
he made that many promises and broke them all
then disapeared
oh and he LOVES to brag about what hes got
Jim on Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Such a terrible loss, I knew Bruce through work during the CSG and Digital Nation days. What a great admirable guy.
I haven’t spoken to Bruce in years, and was so saddened to hear of his death.
He’s in a better place, may he rest forever in peace.
yolanda martinez on Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Bruce it was always you and my girlfriend Catherine who I loved dearly but you both drove me nuts. You and Catherine were running into each oher alot down in Buenos Aires since she worked for United. Sadly we Catherine’s life was taken from us all and then yours I hope you and Catherine are still having laughs I hope I will see ou in the afterlife. We are soon coming on the anniversary of the deaths of two dear friends June will be a sad sad month always
Yo from Dancing Peppers