Our beloved father, John Bruce Roberts, “Juice Man” left us for eternal peace May 29th in Myrtle Beach of heart complications. Bruce was born on September 17, 1937 in New Bedford to the late Capt. Llewellyn V. Roberts and Evelyn L. (Kennedy). He was the youngest son and brother to the late, Llewellyn Roberts and twin brothers the late Paul J. Roberts and David J. Roberts of Winston-Salem, NC. In 1950 as a youngster, Bruce traveled with his parents to Italy, Greece and Portugal during the Roman Catholic Holy Year. He was given the Pope’s blessing as were the thousands in attendance at St. Peter’s Basilica. Bruce attended New Bedford High School and took an early release before graduating to enlist in the United States Air Force. He graduated from high school during his military service. Bruce was quite the baseball player and was truly recognized as an excellent hitter in baseball having once hit a baseball some 475’ at Haywood Field, in Attleboro.
Upon entering the Air Force and after basic training he was assigned to the Strategic Air Commands 2nd AF Headquarters at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. He later was assigned to Homestead Air Force Base in Homestead, Fl., were he played baseball for the base team. Bruce was known for his ability to socialize and enjoy life and on weekends would head to Miami Beach and spend time with his parents on winter holiday. On many nights Bruce would tell stories of his days in Miami Beach with his service buddies. While on a training mission his aircraft took off and headed east landing in 100+ degree heat in French Morocco, North Africa. He spent two months there and took a rest and relaxation getaway flight to London, England, the birthplace of his late father and fell in love with the city, the countryside and the people.
In 1958, after returning to Homestead AFB he chose to re-enlist and was assigned to Strategic Air Command headquarters in London, England. His love of London made his decision easy. At the same time the St. Louis Browns, now the Baltimore Orioles, had an interest in his future as a professional baseball player, but his commitment to the USAF made that impossible.
On his first day in London he met and fell in love with Sheila Helen Patten. Bruce’s gift for speaking and charming personality won her over and in 1960 they were married in London’s West Minster Cathedral. Many nights Dad and Mom would go into Soho and dance the night away. In 1961 they had their first child, Llewellyn, “Len” Roberts, now a Captain with the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
In May of 1961 Bruce was discharged having attained the rank of Staff Sgt. and returned with his family to New Bedford to assist his mother with running the family business, New Bedford Stevedoring, Inc. He was Vice-President and served as a trustee on the health, pension and welfare fund of the local International Longshoremen’s Union, 1812-1816. Upon returning home he played semi-pro baseball for the Red Foxes in the New Bedford Twilight Baseball league where at one time he hit a baseball off the house at the corner of Arnold Street and Rockdale Avenue at Buttonwood Park, witnessed by many and cause of much debate with one of his best friends, John Murphy.
In 1961 he was appointed as a State Natural Resource Officer within the Division of Law Enforcement. He was well known and respected by fishermen and boat owners alike throughout the waterfront.
In 1963 his second son, John Charles Roberts was born. In 1970 Steven Bruce Roberts was born and the family was complete.
In 1975 he was promoted to Assistant Director of the Division of Law Enforcement with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Environmental Police where he retired in 1987 after suffering a heart attack.
After retirement he moved to Royal Palm, Florida and returned to New Bedford in 1992 and opened Stingers Lounge in downtown New Bedford.
Bruce was an avid golfer and was a member of Hawthorne, Whaling City Golf Course and Allendale Country Clubs for many years. He participated in many golf tournaments and has the distinction of having made two (2) hole in ones; one on the 7th hole at the Whaling City golf course and the second one at the third (3rd) hole at the Allendale Country club. He coached Teener baseball in the Whaling City Teener League taking Fairhaven Lumber from last place to 1st place in one year. He especially loved teaching the players the art of hitting. In his later years he enjoyed antique cars, especially his vintage 1956 Chevy Belair, and deeply believed in the powers of St. Jude.
Bruce’s personality and facial expressions gave him the uncanny ability to tell jokes and hold court at functions and events. He always had acronyms for something; BPG (bad gin player) or BPINE (best putter in New England) or so he thought. That uncanny wit always made people laugh and radiate towards him, putting him in his glory of telling jokes and bringing laughter. Bruce lived a storied and eventful life and always thanked God and St. Jude for his blessing.
Bruce was a member of the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association, the Massachusetts State Retirees Association, and the Massachusetts Environmental Police Association.
Besides his three sons and ex-wife he his survived by two grandchildren, Jennifer Lynne and Lindsay Megan Roberts along with a great-grandson, Mason Llewellyn John, named after his grandfather and great-grandfather and a great granddaughter, Kylie Grace. He will be truly missed by many for his love of life, his wit and humor, guidance and as our best friend, and dad.
Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford Saturday, June 4th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Friday, June 3rd from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.