In Memory of . . . Glyn J. Pruce (1928-2015)
Rev. Glyn Pruce died on June 1, 2015 at the age of 86.
Glyn was born on December 25, 1928, in London, England, to John and Ethel Pruce. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the London Polytechnic Institute in 1954; a Diploma in Ministry from Manchester College (of Oxford, England) in 1958; a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) from Boston University in 1965; and a Master of Arts in Theology from Boston University in 1970.
Rev. Pruce was ordained by the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in London, England in 1958, and received Unitarian Universalist ministerial fellowship in 1973. He served as interim minister to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, GA from 1974 to 1975; minister to the Lakeshore Unitarian Church of Pointe Claire, Quebec from 1975 to 1978; minister to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, NY from 1978 to 1983; minister to The Great Meeting (Unitarian) of Leicester, UK from 1983 to 1987; minister to the Old Meetinghouse (Unitarian), Bessells Green of Kent, UK and the Maidstone Unitarian Church of Kent, UK from 1987 to 1992; and minister to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs, FL from 1992 to 1997.
Rev. Pruce was quite active within the denomination throughout his thirty-nine years of ministry. He served various committees and organizations throughout his time in the United Kingdom, including the Unitarian Ministers Association and theUnitarian Commission on Society and the Family. In the United States, he served as secretary of the St. Lawrence District Chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association from 1975 to 1980; and moderator of the Arlington Street Unitarian Universalist Church from 1969 to 1970.
Prior to entering the ministry, Glyn served as a British Merchant Marine. He enlisted in 1945, and his ship was headed toward the Pacific Theatre battles at the time the Japanese surrendered. He spent the next three years traveling with the Marines throughout China and India, and the impact of seeing human suffering in those countries led him to the ministry.
Glyn taught sociology at Northeastern University, in Boston, MA, and took part in a doctoral program in the Sociology of Education at Boston University. He worked on the Boston’s Redevelopment Authority, and was an avid reader and World War II history buff. He loved classical music, traveling and spending time with his granddaughter, whom he affectionately called “Mistress Eden Willow.” Glyn’s, son, Timothy, recalls that Eden was his “pride and joy, and the love of his life.”
Glyn is survived by his son, Timothy Pruce (Lorna Pruce); granddaughter, Eden Pruce; companion, Constance Traycheff, and her family; stepchildren, Susan, Robert, Michael and their families; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on June 27th, 2015 in Palm Harbor, FL 34683.
Notes of condolences may be sent to Timothy Pruce and Family, 157-10 Riverside Drive West, Apt. 14Q, New York, NY 10032, and to Constance Traycheff, 2664 Pine Ridge Way South, Apt. D1, Palm Harbor, FL 34684.