Heather's article in the Daily Journal - Representing Broadway with style
Burlingame's Ross Bruce is famous for his sharp suits and Fedora. Under the brim of a classic Fedora he strolls down Burlingame's Broadway every day. Whether he is acting as the president of the Broadway Business Improvement District or working at A.V.R. Realty, Ross Bruce always sticks out in a crowd. Well, as long as he isn't sporting his leisurely jeans and a T-shirt. I'll wave at people and they won't even recognize me,? he said. Famous for his sharp suits reminiscent of times past, Bruce is always an upbeat staple to the downtown area in Burlingame.
The 52-year-old is a native local. He was born at Mills Hospital and graduated from Mills High School in 1973. Although the family business, A.V.R. Realty, was around then Bruce had another aspiration acting. He ended up getting his degree in finance from San Francisco State University. He settled on a more serious degree because he knew he could act already. The background in theatrics becomes apparent just sitting down with Bruce. There is never a story without a different voice, facial expression or even hand gesture to add to the tale. These days he doesn't get on stage much but recently began performing with the Il Piccolo Players a group of Burlingame people who perform old radio dramas. He has a look. He has an image. He has a character. I realized Realtors will take something to distinguish themselves. Some wear a hat. With [Bruce's] it's 1940s-ish style suits and hats. People who costume instead of dress are usually actors,? said Director Cathy Foxhoven.
Bruce's love affair with the 40s-style jackets began when he was in seventh grade. He bought his first jacket at a secondhand store because he liked the look. He enjoyed the formal attire and the oversized shoulders. The hat was added later in high school. At first it was for style, but as more of his head began to see the sun the hat became a staple. Today Bruce owns 23 different suits and has had six hats he recently left one in San Diego. While the formal attire is his everyday dress around Burlingame, Bruce does dress down to explore the ocean. He became a scuba diving instructor in the early 1980s and still teaches two classes a year. Many people walk out to the edge of the continent and looked out with curiosity. I walked out to the edge of the continent and looked out with curiosity and just kept going,? he said. He didn't intend to become a teacher of the underwater sport. He was talked into and his teaching career almost ended before it began. The last task after a seven-day scuba boot camp was to save a person. Once the victim is on the beach, the instructor approaches with some symptoms that need to be diagnosed. Bruce explained having cherry red lips and nail beds is a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning. But when the instructor gave those symptoms to Bruce and asked his diagnosis he replied, I think he's a transvestite,? he said with a laugh. If he hadn't quickly given the correct response he might not hold that credential today.
Bruce slipped into an impression of Groucho Marx on his last episode of You Bet Your Life,? as an example of how sometimes it's too good of a line to pass up. Marx was pulled from his long-running television show after a comment he made to a Midwest housewife was deemed inappropriate by the sponsors. It was on one of his diving adventures that he met his fiancee nine years ago. Diana Williams is an sergeant in the army who works at St. Luke's hospital in the Mission district of San Francisco. The couple has no immediate wedding plans but is enjoying watching Williams' three children grow up.
- Written by Fiona
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