Obituary
Guest Book
1931
2016
Maxwell Bruce Hirshorn (Bruce) died suddenly in his sleep on the evening of July 7.
Bruce was born October 18, 1931 in Camden, New Jersey, the older son of Harry and Estelle (nee Spector) Hirshorn. He grew up in Northwest Philadelphia and graduated from the William Penn Charter School in 1949. The qualities of tolerance, charity and compassion taught at Penn Charter stayed with him for the rest of his life. Bruce matriculated to Yale College, where he sang in the Glee Club and managed the squash and track teams. Graduating with a degree in history in 1954, Bruce returned to his hometown to work at his father's insurance brokerage, Harry R. Hirshorn and Company (now Hirshorn Boothby). The following year Bruce married his first wife, Anne Sue nee Friedberg. In 1956 their first son, Barry, was born, followed by a daughter, Harriet, in 1958. It was in this period that he discovered what would prove to be one of his enduring passions: the law. Originally taking night classes at Temple Law School, Bruce graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1960, where he was a member of the Lewis Law Club and the Moot Court Board. After receiving the third highest bar exam score in Pennsylvania, he practiced law in Philadelphia for the next two years.
In 1962, inspired by John F. Kennedy's call to public service, and encouraged by his wife, Bruce joined the Foreign Service. The State Department first sent Bruce and his young family to Izmir, Turkey, where he served as a consular officer. For the rest of his life he enjoyed surprising waiters in Turkish restaurants by conversing with them in their native language. In 1965, his second son, Harold, was born in Philadelphia.
The Foreign Service next sent Bruce and his family to Brussels, where he worked at the United States Mission to the European Economic Community. One of his primary duties involved efforts to persuade the United Kingdom to join the common market.
In 1967, Bruce achieved unusually high scores during training for economics, and in 1970 the State Department sent him to London to study. In 1971 he graduated from the London School of Economics with a Master's of Science in economics.
Bruce and his family subsequently returned to Washington. Having divorced his first wife, and having taken up wine making as a hobby, he asked a lively, pretty young hostess at the Foreign Service Club for empty wine bottles. In 1974, Willene Drake became his second wife. The following year, Bruce was assigned to the American consulate in Hong Kong as an economic officer. Bruce's third son and fourth child, Dalton, was born there in 1976. In 1977, Bruce and his family moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he served as the economic counselor in the American Embassy.
In 1981 Bruce returned to the United States. After four years working at the State Department, Bruce retired from government service, and returned to school to earn an LLM in taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1986. He subsequently resumed practicing law,
In ____ he became a partner at Boring & Pilger. Bruce continued his service to his country as a lecturer at the Foreign Service Institute and the Foreign Agricultural Service. He served his fellow diplomats on the board of directors of the American Foreign Service Association and his neighbors as a long-time member of his condominium's board of directors.
His professional life spanned seven decades and three professions. For more than half a century, Bruce traveled the world, visiting six continents and dozens of countries. He saw great opera houses and museums, drank excellent Scotch, and ate innumerable memorable meals. Despite his natural shyness, he cultivated and maintained decades-long friendships with people from high school, college, and the Foreign Service. He also enjoyed socializing with his children's friends, and in later life he relished being the oldest person in the room at parties.
He will be remembered for his decency and compassion, his tremendous work ethic, his commitment to his clients, his devotion to his children, his dedication to his wife, his enormous reserves of energy, his sartorial acumen, and his dry wit. He had a brilliant mind and a huge heart, and he loved beating his children at squash, table tennis and the occasional footrace. He loved classical music, New Orleans jazz, klezmer music, and rarely missed the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday afternoon broadcast. Like his younger brother, he was an avid filmgoer. Having learned the Charleston from his mother, and after much jitterbugging as a teenager, he and his second wife would astound younger people at weddings with their proficiency on the dance floor. An intellectual in the truest sense of the word, he loved reading and discussing history, economics, and politics, and having involved conversations about ethics with his wife. He was a true gentleman, and a patriot.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 42 years, Willene nee Drake, his former wife Anne Sue nee Friedberg, and children Barry (Linda Sjogren) of Kapolei, Hawaii, Harriet (Marie de Cenival) and Hal of New York, New York, and Dalton of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also survived by his brother Ralph Steven (Natalie) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sisters-in-law Edith (Dick) Brooks of Foley, Alabama and Melinda Drake of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the American Friends Service Committee or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
July 6, 2019
Friend
Martin Adams
He was awfully good at what he did. He helped me and a dear friend. Both is us will always be grateful.
August 12, 2017
I knew Mr. Hirshorn from working with and for him at the law firm of Boring, Parrott & Pilger in Vienna, VA. He was a great human being, fine gentleman with a beautiful smile and sense of humor and well loved member of BP&P ... He spoke both of my first languages, german and french and we often conversed in them and also shared the love for culture and opera, especially the "Libiamo" drinking song from LaTraviata which Mr. Hirshorn often whistled around the office or on his way out to lunch when he walked past my desk. I loved and respected this man in a professional manner and still have a letter of recommendation signed by him after having left BP&P, a now cherished memory ..... rest in peace Mr. Hirshorn, I will never forget you, keep you in my memory and hope to see again in eternity .... Yours respectfully, Monique ....
August 7, 2017
a true friend for life, we miss you Bruce
August 31, 2016
James Bruno
Bruce recently re-established contact with me after some years, which delighted me. A former client, I, too, admired Bruce's fine personality, ethics and intellect. The world is a better place having had Bruce Hirshorn as one of its citizens.
July 31, 2016
I joined the Foreign Service in September 1962 and became one of Bruce's many friends in our A-100 course. We stayed in touch through several overseas assignments. Bruce was a terrific friend with a great sense of humor. I will miss him. Our sympathy for his family.
Bill and Traci Weingarten
July 22, 2016
JAMES AND AMELIA KNIGHT
We were clients of Bruce for more than twenty years and will miss him deeply. Our heartfelt condolences to his family. Ambassador James Knight and Amelia Bell Knight
July 16, 2016
Kristen Tymeson
I was a client of Bruce's after my father died, who was a fellow FSO and friend. He was there for me when my father died, and I truly appreciated and was everlastingly grateful for his support. He will be missed by many, myself included.
July 13, 2016
Gary McElhiney
I was a client of Bruce Hirshorn for many years. He was a fine professional and real gentleman. He will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy to his family.
July 13, 2016
Youmna Bonnot
I was a client of Bruce for 22 years and always valued his help and advice while living overseas and lately after I moved back to Virginia. He will be greatly missed .
My sincere condolences to his family.
July 13, 2016
Jennifer Mauller
What a wonderful tribute. A man with a great mind and a great heart to match. Condolences to the family. May the memory of Bruce Hirshorn live on with great fondness. -Jennifer Mauller
July 12, 2016
Martin Adams
I was a client of Bruce for 35 years. He was always helpful, patient and good humored, and invariably knowledgeable. He helped several friends of mine as well. He was a friend to many in the Foreign Service, and will be greatly missed.
July 12, 2016
joel rochow
Bruce and I entered the foreign service in 1962 and have been best friends ever a delightful person in every way. since. He was a delightful person in every way - thoughtful, witty, a delightful person in every way. Those of us who knew him know that our lives were so enriched by his friendship. We're all stunned by his sudden and totally unexpected passing.
July 10, 2016
Marty Lee
So sorry to hear of Mr. Hirshorn's passing.
My condolences to his family.
Chatham Resident Marty Lee
July 9, 2016
My sincere condolences to Bruce's entire family at this sad time.
Fondly,
Linda G Hirshorn
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