Dr. Bruce L. Stinchcomb
85, passed peacefully at home, Wednesday July 12, 2023. On Monday, two days before, he was doing what he loved; discovering fossils with friends and colleagues at Crowley’s Ridge. He leaves behind his daughter, Beth Stinchcomb; two nephews, Frank and Lou Wachowe, Teresa & Nick Wachowe, and many friends. He earned a PhD in earth science from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1978, and received his MA in geology from Washington University in 1966. A professor at St. Louis Community College for 36 years; he retired in 2005. His contributions to science and paleontology will forever be recognized. Mentor and Teacher; he was instrumental in the discovery, excavation & preservation of our Missouri dinosaur: Parrosaurus missouriensis, currently on display at The Chicago Museum of Natural History.
Memorial visitation at Kutis Funeral Home 2906 Gravois Ave on September 23, from 4-8pm
Dr Bruce
We only knew you for about 5 years but in that time, you taught me a lot and I enjoyed talking to you. You were a friend and mentor and we are thankful to have known you,
God bless you
Dr. Bruce Stinchcomb:
You Were A Treasure And A Good Friend. I Am So Greatful For The Short Time I Had To Know You And All The Knowledge You Shared. You Will NEVER Be Forgotten and Forever Missed. To Your Family Which I Had The Pleasure Of Meeting Beth, Dena And I Send Our DEEPEST HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES.
Bruce, I will always miss you. It was awesome riding around MO and learning about Googology, your knowledge about science was unprecedented. You were an amazing person. You always went out of your way to help others all the time and I’m glad I was part of your life. I just seen you in 2021 and I can’t believe your gone, no way. You were in great health; this is super sad. Rest In Peace Bruce. The Science Center has proof, and they recognize that Dinosaurs existed in MO finally, you were right. You will be forever missed fly high Bruce, Till the next time.
Sincerely,
Brandon Douglas Berry III
Professor Bruce was nearly a charter member of the St. Louis Mineral & Gem Society, joining the club as a youngster. Going on a field trip with Bruce was such a delight because he was a “walking encyclopedia”. An expert field geologist, he will be sorely missed and the Geological Community has incurred a great loss. We are fortunate that he recorded some of his knowledge and experience in the books he wrote and published, some 17 of them! He will surely be remembered for the role he played in the historic discovery of the Missouri dinosaur. I am so glad that he was able to finish and publish his last book, Precambrian Mystery Fossils, before he left us! This book is the culmination of his life-long pursuit of finding the clues for the beginning of life on earth. I am very grateful to have known him!
So sorry to hear about Bruce passing away.
Knowing Bruce was an adventure.
Oh Bruce we are all gonna miss you so much. I will forever see you w that giant ice cream cone in Ardeola. You were like a giant kid enjoying it! Obviously I will be forever thankful for your knowledge on all the silly rocks I asked you about. I still jam the mix CD you made for us for one of the field trips as well. A man of many talents and the kindness to share them. Thank you.
RIP
My dear Bruce, my “second” brother.
Always remember, the “Green Turtles in Red Jello” and all the canoe trips that I took with yofu and my brother, Bill.
To your family, I know that you will miss him and I’m sure that he will know.
Until we see each other again….Keep searching for the Mother Load of fossils.
I first met Bruce at nineteen as my instructor for Physical and Historical Geology courses at Florissant Valley Community College. As a lost college sophomore without a major, Bruce changed the course of my life by encouraging me to become a professional geologist. I attribute much of my career success to his example of intellectual curiosity and being motivated by interests. His knowledge, enthusiasm and energy was legendary.
Years ago now, Dr. Stinchcomb and his jovial colleagues had tables and tables of fossils displayed one Saturday in June at Mastodon State Park. I was a sixth grade science teacher at Rogers Middle School in Affton surveying the site for a field trip for my students. Among all the attending scientists that Saturday, I was most taken with Dr. Stinchcomb. His years of education and experience were impressive, but his still boyish exuberance for paleontology was exceedingly infectious. After learning of his recent retirement, I invited him to come to my school to speak to my science classes. Dr. Stinchcomb did not hesitate to oblige. Year after year, he traveled from his north county home to my distant south county school to share that boyish exuberance for paleontology with my students… beginning at 7:10 a.m! Dr. Stinchcomb brought along many, many satchels of cantaloupe sized fossils and unselfishly passed specimens from his glorious collection around for my enthralled sixth graders to hold and examine and admire. He spoke tirelessly all morning with unwavering enthusiasm and enchanted all five of my science classes, one after another. Dr. Stinchcomb’s fascinating presentation was absolutely marvelous to behold! What an impression he made over the years on hundreds of kids at Rogers Middle School! At his insistence, I recall, the only payment he accepted for his visit was a tasty school cafeteria lunch, which Dr. Stinchcomb savored, complimented, and devoured with gusto. What a truly amazing man.
I was truly blessed to have an opportunity to take Bruce on that last trip. I wish I would have had more time with him because he knew so much and openly shared it without making you feel like you were a bother. His excitement at teaching someone about his passions was contagious. While driving to Ardeola I was learning so much about Bruce’s interests. He talked about his passion for civil war cylinders, phonographs, stromatolites, and even told me about what each of the road cuts were along the way.
Picking up Rich we drove to Boomland for ice cream before reaching the dig site.
Once we were there and while I was digging, I noticed Bruce was just relaxing and laying on the ground on his back. He was looking up through the trees to the sky and smiling. Looking back, it makes me overwhelmingly happy that I was able to take him there since he really seemed to love that site and talked about the potential for there being pterodactyl fossils since the area was previously a seaside. (If I remember correctly, it was either a seaside or a cliff/beach area where they would dive for fish in the ocean.)
Driving back, he wanted to stop in Perryville at his favorite Chinese place, but he fell asleep, and I missed the turn. I wished now that I had made it so he would have gotten a meal from his favorite place.
It was funny how he realized though.
After he woke up, he was looking at the roadcuts on the way back and realized that we were not in the right area just from that! It was honestly impressive!
We still managed to get to a Chinese buffet for food and we talked about our pets, chatted about fossils, and talked about what I wanted to do after college.
Taking Bruce home I asked him if he had a great time and he responded happily that he did. He talked about taking another trip out to the same place soon and we talked about the upcoming MAPS show where he had planned on showing a display of his amazing Crinoid collection.
When I dropped him off, he invited me inside and showed me his amazing fossil collection. I’m glad I took my phone and recorded video after video of his collection as he talked about everything and how he had it in order by timeline and where he found some or where they came from. I was stunned and amazed and wished he had the time to find the Ammonite fossil he wanted to give me, but it was already so late, and I didn’t want him to worry and said, “I’ll get it next time!”.
How I wish there was a next time. Even if I didn’t get the fossil, I would have gained more knowledge that he openly shared and had more time with someone who was so inspiring and really cared for education and preservation.
I will miss him deeply.
I’m so grateful I was able to take him on that last dig for fossils. He seemed so happy and was always sharing his knowledge with everyone and anyone who was interested.
I feel so blessed I was able to talk with Bruce, learn from Bruce, listen to him, witness his amazing collection, and build a friendship.
I, as well as everyone in the geology/paleontology/fossil community, will miss him greatly.
Thank you, Bruce, for everything you taught. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Thank you for the opportunities you gave. Thank you for your eagerness to share your knowledge. Thank you.
I hope he rests well knowing his work, words, and kindness will never be forgotten.
If any of the family members would like to see any of the videos I have gotten, please feel free to reach out to me in any way.
Codie C.
Bruce was a force of nature! We became friends during the 1980s when he taught Geology and I taught Anthropology at STLCC-Florissant Valley. I have often borrowed samples from his collection for photography and pXRF chemical analysis. It was very common for geologists to ask me if “I knew Bruce” when they learned that I taught at STLCC. No one could forget Bruce after more than a few minutes of conversation. He gifted me with a set of his books when I asked him about the ins and outs of specialized publication. I miss him.
Bruce is the reason that I became a geologist. I have so many fond memories. When he retired in 2005, I was hired to teach and for 3 years worked along side him to reignite the outdoor club at STLCC. He was so supportive. We canoed the Mississippi River, and the Meramec with students on weekends. He would often run shuttles for me when I took students backpacking. I owe so much to him. He truly was outstanding in his field. It hurts my heart to know he is gone, but he passed on both his knowledge and love for geology, and I have been teaching geology ever since. I will never ever forget how Bruce described the difference between AA lava and Pahoehoe. If you know, you know.
Cousin Bruce was a favorite of our family. He was just 2 months older than my brother, Carl, always appreciated my sister Kay, dropped in frequently to visit with our younger sister, Lynn and shared Boy Scout tales with me. We loved to visit Uncle Lenard, Aunt Jean (Virginia) and Bruce as well as any number of their various dogs over our growing up years in St Louis. We always had a tour of his collection of fossils and minerals. Bruce also had a wonderful collection of wax cylinder recordings and was an avid historian on the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. We shall all miss cousin Bruce.
As the interim chair of the Geosciences and Geological & Petroleum Engineering Department at Missouri University of Science and Technology, I express our deepest condolences on the passing of Dr. Bruce Stinchcomb. Dr. Stinchcomb was an esteemed alumnus of our department, earning his Ph.D. in 1978. His generosity in sharing his books and Missouri fossils has enriched our academic community. We were fortunate to have him as a seminar speaker about 10 years ago, where his insights inspired us all. His loss is profoundly felt, and his contributions will not be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
Dr. Stephen Gao, Professor and Interim Department Chair
There was a large age gap between Bruce and myself so I didn’t grow up with him as my siblings did. My husband and I got to know him as adults. We loved his stories and his generosity. Bruce was a genuinely kind person with a few idiosyncrasies that made him unique within our family and the world at large. From his visceral hatred for mustard to his fascination with sound recording, he could always make interesting conversation. He was the consummate geologist but an environmentalist and history buff as well. He loved Missouri from the rivers and hills on its surface to the layers of rock that lie beneath. We will miss him.
Paul & Lynn Stinchcomb Carter
Saddened to hear of his passing, much too late.
Dr. Stinchcombe taught Historical geology and Mineralogy at Florissant Valley before his retirement. My pending retirement in 2005 prompted me to take his classes. We became good friends, a mere ten years younger! Easy to do with his eccentric but caring personality. Many a road trip we shared, from road cuts to his dinosaur land, to fossil hunting in the Missouri River, to hikes in the wilderness, to his basement…a museum in its own right. Have some of his collection of fossils, minerals, recording discs, and pics of his early phonographs and wax discs. The last vestiges of his memory!
A scientist extraordinaire, he is truly missed!
I have all of Dr.Stincomb’s books and had the pleasure of meeting him once. He was a credit to the field of Geological sciences and a congenial man.
I have known Bruce for over 50 yrs and have been on many a field trip with him and that blue station wagon! He always kept magazines and duct tape in in. When I was doing my Master’s in teaching science, he taught one of the courses. Years before his blue station wagon had enough miles on to go to the moon and back. Wonder how long he kept it and how many miles it had. His exuberance for Earth Science was amazing and we even attended a party at his home for the EMSP club where we marveled at the fossils embedded in the stair rail. My friend Brigitte and I both taught Earth Science and even did workshop with him for Science teachers. We will miss you! See you on the other side.
Hello, I didn’t know Dr. Stinchcomb personally, but I recently bought one of the fossils from his collection at a fossils show in New Jersey where I live. I am a public educator with a lifelong fascination in prehistory, particularly from eons ago when our world was so different. Dr. Stinchcomb’s work made a huge difference in our understanding of our world’s past. I wanted to let you know that this fossil trilobite I purchased is in good hands and will be enjoyed and appreciated for many years to come.
I am sorry that this is so late, but I did not hear of Bruce’s passing until about 2 months ago. I first met him in Fall 1967 at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis Co., where I took both physical and historical Geology from him.
This resulted in a generally enjoyable career in Geology. I was on many fossil and rock collecting trips with him. He was a great friend and mentor.
He is missed.
Michael Bounk