Bruce Lee Hoagland Of Manahawkin Dies At 77

Courtesy of Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home:

Bruce Lee Hoagland, 77, of Manahawkin passed away on Friday, April 10, 2015.

Bruce was formerly of Surf City before retiring to the Perry’s Lake Community in Manahawkin.

He served in the U.S. Navy (1959-1963) aboard the USS Noa DD 841, where he directed the landing of the Mercury Friendship 7 spacecraft with Lt. Col John H. Glenn aboard. On Feb. 20, 1962, Lt. Col Glenn, former US Senator, was the 1st astronaut to orbit the earth 3 times.

Bruce was an avid saltwater fisherman and hunter. With his wife, he co-owned Bruce and Pat’s Bait & Tackle in Surf City for 25 years. He couldn’t handle retirement, so he did fishing flea markets to keep busy. He taught many men and women how to fish and always loved working with children.

For almost 25 years, he ran a crab contest just for kids. When they would see him, they always talked about the fond memories of the big one and the crab traps they won. Bruce always enjoyed going to BlueClaws and Phillies games. He was a member of Sextant Lodge #286, 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite in Collingswood and Past Patron of Beacon/Bethlehem Chapter #40. He fought a good fight for a long time and now is ready to lay down his working tools and pass into eternity.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, John L. and Hazel Hoagland and brother Richard. He is survived by his best friend, partner and loving wife of 52 years, Patricia- Jo TenEyck Hoagland, son Ronald, daughter Renee Gresko, son Randi and his wife Ann of Hampton, VA, grandchildren Alicia and Michael Gresko, Darian, Kacie, Briana, Patricia Jo-Lee and Brendon Hoagland and his sister Carol and her husband Robert Zavacki of Valrico, FL.

A Memorial Gathering will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2015 with Masonic and Eastern Star Services at 2:30 pm at Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home, 12th Street & Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom, NJ 08008. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce’s memory to The O.E.S Charity Foundation Assn. of NJ, c/o Patricia Jo-Hoagland, 96 Perry’s Lane, Manahawkin, NJ 08050, The Past Matrons & Past Patrons Assn. of NJ, c/o Andrea Surran, 12 Hill Dr, Pine Hill, NJ 08021 and/or The Masonic Charity Foundation of NJ, 902 Jacksonville Rd, Burlington, NJ 08016.