Born April 19, 1933
Medford, Massachusetts
Died Dec. 24, 2025
Marlboro, Vermont
Details of services
He has been laid to rest in King Cemetery in Marlboro. A celebration of life for Bruce will be held mid-April 2026. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family at P.O. Box 133, Marlboro, Vermont 05344.
Bruce Cole, 92, of Marlboro, passed away peacefully on Dec. 24, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on April 19, 1933, in Medford, Massachusetts, Bruce was the son of Barbara Sawyer Cole and the Rev. Alfred Storer Cole of Wilmington, Vermont.
Bruce’s life was defined by hard work, compassion, a sense of humor, and an unwavering commitment to family and community. It was in Boston where he met his lifelong partner and greatest love, Barbara Draper. They were both young dreamers working and aspiring to become veterinarians at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. Their shared passion for learning and service became the foundation of a love that lasted 70 beautiful years.
Bruce began his education at Tufts University, where his father taught, and later attended the Massachusetts College of Agriculture. He served his country with dedication in the Army Dental Corps in North Carolina during the Korean War. In 1959, he and Barbara graduated from Marlboro College, a place that remained a touchstone throughout his life and career.
In the early 1960s, they bought an old farmhouse in Wilmington, Vermont. With tireless energy and care, transformed the surrounding woods and fields into a working farmstead. A place of animals, shared work and laughter. It became their home for six decades, where they raised their five children and created a lifetime of family memories. For his grandchildren, it was a place of learning, adventure and love, where the roots of family were deeply planted.
Both Bruce and Barbara pursued careers in education with joy and purpose. After earning teaching certifications, Bruce went on to earn two master’s degrees and was later recognized with an Honorary Master’s in Education from Marlboro College. His passion for learning took him beyond the classroom — including a sabbatical in 1975 to study the English Primary System in England, and participation in an archaeological dig in Farfa, Italy, in 1981. These experiences enriched his teaching and inspired the many children whose lives he touched.
Bruce’s tenure at Marlboro Elementary School was truly remarkable. As a teaching principal, he upheld high standards with warmth, creativity and deep respect for every child. He had a rare ability to see potential in others and lift people up – meeting people where they were, encouraging confidence and helping them believe in themselves. His approach, ahead of its time, nurtured curiosity, resilience, and confidence, creating a safe and supportive environment where children felt valued and capable. Decades of students, families and colleagues continue to hold him in the highest regard, carrying his lessons of encouragement.
Bruce found meaning in shared work and time spent together. He spent countless hours alongside his children and family—mowing lawns, painting houses and caring for the farm. After-school and summer days were filled with cutting and stacking firewood, sugaring, shoveling snow, tending to animals and skiing at Hogback Mountain. In these everyday moments, he taught by example, showing that love often looks like showing up, pitching in and doing things side by side.
For fifteen years, Bruce, Barbara, and their five children welcomed the community to Maple Ridge Farm Camp on the hillside in Wilmington. Here, campers would learn how to care for animals, develop an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, and be enthralled by wild stories Bruce told around the campfire during the weekly campouts. Camp excursions in the yellow school bus to oceans and mountains sparked friendships and fostered a lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. The camp reflected Bruce’s gentle guidance, patience, and belief in learning through experience.
Bruce was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, mentor, neighbor, and friend. He volunteered at the Deerfield Valley Health Center, the Diversion Board, Deerfield Valley Fair, Windham County Conservation District, Marlboro Cares and Marlboro School Association. Bruce is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, and his children, Bridget Cole, Dianna Driller (Ron) of Tahoe City, CA, Scott Cole (Jody) of Richmond, VT, Andrew Cole (Jennifer Langdon) of Kilauea, HI and Jennifer Nilsen (Karl) of Wilmington, VT.
He was a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren: Courtney, Colin, Caitlin, Abigail, Tenaya, Garret, Nicholas, Gunnar, Eve & Mara. And 4 great-grandchildren. Bruce also leaves extended family, friends, and many former students who still call him Mr. Cole.
He will be deeply missed for his quick wit and sarcasm delivered in his Boston accent and the steady, comforting presence he brought into the lives of those around him. He lived with integrity and humility and made time for everyone he encountered, always ready with a story, a helping hand, or quiet encouragement.
No words can truly capture who Bruce was or the depth of the impact he made; that is something felt in the hearts of all who knew him. Think of him every time you enjoy a cup of coffee, mow a lawn, split wood, paint a house, fire up a green machine, listen to NPR, pour real Vermont maple syrup over your pancakes or catch a glimpse of an old Dodge Dart.
