Bruce Gregg

Bruce Sellery Gregg passed away from Multiple Myeloma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia on April 23, 2026, at Attic Angel Place in Madison, Wisconsin. Bruce was born in Milwaukee on February 15, 1940, to Elizabeth and John Gregg. Except for three years in Cincinnati during World War II, Bruce grew up in Whitefish Bay, WI where he graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1958. Bruce went to college at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1962 with a degree in History. He went on to receive a double Masters degree in American History and Educational Administration from the University of Wisconsin.

His teaching career began when he took a position as a history teacher in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. When Memorial High School opened in Madison in 1965, he returned to accept a position there, beginning a thirty-three year career in that High School’s history department. He was a popular teacher at Memorial and was chosen by the school’s first graduating class to be its speaker at the graduation ceremony in June, 1968. While at Memorial, he developed an innovative class on the topic of death and dying called Thanatology, coached both boys and girls golf teams, and chaperoned groups of Madison students on summer trips to Europe seven different times. Bruce also served on the bargaining team for the teachers’ union for a number of years.

On June 13, 1970, Bruce married Marsha Graham. Their loving marriage lasted more than 56 years and produced two wonderful children, Kira (Kurt) Femrite of Cottage Grove, WI and Kevin (Brigid) Gregg of Ann Arbor, MI. He was affectionately called “Pa” by his five terrific grandchildren: Will, Erik, and Ella Femrite and Owen and Andrew Gregg. He was so very proud of all of them. Watching his children, and later his grandchildren, participate in athletic events and concerts was something he always cherished.

Bruce was a life-long Cubs fan, and he tried to pass along his love for the Cubs to his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews too. The longawaited 2016 World Series win by the Cubs was something Bruce was thrilled to experience, having often wondered whether it would ever happen in his lifetime. Carrying on a tradition begun by his own father, Bruce loved corresponding with family and friends. He always had a stash of postcards ready to go. And the letters he sent, like his father’s before him, often were filled with articles and newspaper clippings. Those postcards and letters will be greatly missed.

Once both Marsha and Bruce retired from teaching, they enjoyed traveling with dear friends to many parts of the world. Alaska, China, Iceland, Croatia, Cuba, Patagonia, Tanzania, Australia and New Zealand were among their favorite destinations. Closer to home, Bruce organized and participated in PLATO classes, served on the boards of the Friends of the Meeting House and the Madison Public Schools Foundation, and was actively involved with the Madison Historical Society. For over 20 years in retirement, Bruce dedicated much of his time to being a volunteer guide, sharing his expertise with visitors at the Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House, and at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Museum. In connection with the Museum, he enjoyed giving tours of Madison’s Forest Hills Cemetery a few times every year.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Marsha, his children and grandchildren, and sisters- and brothers-in-law Doug (Cindy) Reeder of Chanhassan, MI, Connie (Bob) Roden of Madison, WI, Marilyn (George) Hochmuth of Gainesville, FL, Carol (Bill) Laskar of Tipton, IN, Lori (Doug) Romig of Albuquerque, NM, and eleven nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Judy Reeder.

The family is so grateful for the care Bruce received from the Hematology/ Oncology Dept. at SSM Health, particularly Dr. Shannon O’Mahar, Michelle Lakner, and the wonderful nurses in the Infusion Center there, as well as the care he received in the last weeks of his life from Samantha, Petra, and the rest of the Agrace Hospice and Attic Angel staff.

A celebration of life will be held on August 1, 2026 in the Atrium Auditorium of the Unitarian Meeting House, 900 University Bay Drive in Madison. Family looks forward to greeting friends from 11 to 2, including gathering together at 1 pm to share memories of Bruce a bit more formally. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation for Madison Public Schools, on behalf of Memorial High School, or to the Agrace Adult Day Center of Madison.