Laura Bruckheimer
Laura Bruckheimer, a geologist and urban planner who escaped Nazi Germany with her family, passed away Oct. 31, 2019 in San Jose, Calif. Her family plans to hold a memorial service in Denver next year, at a date to be announced.
Born in Wertheim, Germany on Nov. 14, 1933, Mrs. Bruckheimer fled Germany with her parents in 1938 and settled in New York City. She came to love the outdoors after serving as a counselor at summer camp.
Earning her BS at the City College of New York and her MA from Rutgers University, Mrs. Bruckheimer majored in geology in college and met her first husband in the oil fields of Colorado.
After raising two sons on the East Coast, she returned to Colorado to be near her beloved Rocky Mountains.
“Until the last few months of her life,” her family said, “she hiked, cross country skied and went snow-shoeing with many hiking clubs.”
She worked as a geologist for the US Geological Survey and as an urban planner for CalTrans and the Colorado Dept. of Transportation.
Over the course of her life, Mrs. Bruckheimer resided in New York, Durango, Cody, Wyo., Glenwood Springs, Stamford, Conn., Middletown, NJ, Sacramento, Calif. and Denver.
She was a member of the Hebrew Educational Alliance and Rodef Shalom and was president of the League of Women Voters in Middletown, NJ.
Laura Bruckheimer is survived by sons Brian (Joni) Johnson of Winnetka, Ill. and Stuart (Sarah) Johnson of San Jose, Calif.; grandchildren Rebecca of Washington, DC, Adam of Anacortes, Wash., Bruce of Cleveland, Nolan of San Jose, Carter of Davis, Calif. and Spencer of San Francisco.
Contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy or charity of choice.
