Bruce M. Henderson

September 13, 1949 - July 20, 2020

Posted 8/3/20

Bruce M. Henderson was born on September 13, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, to William P. Henderson and Alice R. Volk.

Bruce grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Long Beach High School …

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Bruce M. Henderson

September 13, 1949 - July 20, 2020

Posted

Bruce M. Henderson was born on September 13, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, to William P. Henderson and Alice R. Volk.

Bruce grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Long Beach High School in 1967. It was here that Bruce met his beloved bride, Debby, at the age of 15. The two were voted class athletes and class couple at Long Beach High School. Bruce attended Nassau Community College from 1967 to 1969 where he excelled in football and baseball eventually earning his place in the Nassau Community College Hall of Fame. After attending Nassau Community College, Bruce and Debby were married in Point Lookout, New York, on June 8, 1969.

Bruce furthered his college education at Long Island University from 1970 to 1972 where he played baseball and was the captain of the team. Bruce was drafted by the New York Mets in 1967; by the Montreal Expos in 1969; and again in 1972 by the St. Louis Cardinals where he signed. He started with the Cardinals Rookie League in Sarasota, Florida and then moved up to the A League in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bruce was then moved to the A League in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After an injury, Bruce was released from the Cardinals.

He moved his family to Middletown, New York to run a small trucking business with his brother Bill. After 3 years and gas prices soaring, the company disbanded and Bruce decided to finish his degree at Long Island University. He graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. At the time, there were no teaching jobs on Long Island, so Bruce moved his family to booming Houston, Texas where there were plenty of teaching jobs. In 1981, Bruce and his family moved to Channelview, Texas. It was here that Bruce taught science and coached football at Alice Johnson Junior High. After one year, Bruce transferred to Channelview High School to coach the varsity football and varsity baseball teams. After 3 years in Channelview, Bruce and his family relocated to Katy, Texas, where he landed a job at Memorial Parkway Junior High in Katy Independent School District. After 1 year, Bruce was transferred to Taylor High School where he taught Chemistry and coached the varsity football and baseball teams for 23 years. Bruce moonlighted as an umpire and a basketball official for 30 years in the Houston area as well.

After Bruce retired in 2006 from Katy ISD, he obtained his dream job of working security as a field supervisor for the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. He did this for 10 and a half years. He absolutely loved working at the ballpark and had a special relationship with his co-workers as well as the season ticket holders in section 106 (3rd base line). Bruce was very passionate about loyalty and honesty. He was a hard worker with very strong ethics.

Bruce M. Henderson passed away on Monday, July 20, 2020 in Richmond, Texas at 70 years of age. He is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Marie “Debby” Henderson; his daughters, Julienne M. Berg (Spring, TX)  and Jill D. Rives and her husband Mark E. Rives (Richmond, TX); his grandchildren, Carson and Cooper Berg, Addison and Henderson Rives; his brothers, William Henderson (Wrentham, MA) and Patrick J. McNeil (Richmond, TX); as well as numerous other loving family members and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to The Petterie Animal Adoption/Rescue at https://thepetterie.com/donate/  or to the Houston Astros Foundation at https://www.mlb.com/astros/community/foundation/donate.

Bruce M. Henderson, Brooklyn, Long Beach High School, Nassau Community College, New York Mets, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, New York, Channelview, Katy, Memorial Parkway Junior High, Katy Independent School District, Taylor High School, Chemistry, Astros, Minute Maid Park, Debby Henderson, Julienne M. Berg, Jill D. Rives, Mark E. Rives, Carson Berg, Cooper Berg, Addision Rives, Henderson Rives, William Henderson, Patrick J. McNeil, Houston Astros Foundation