Frank O. Bruch ’51

Frank O. Bruch ’51, M.D., died in Middlebury, Vermont, on December 17, 2020. He spent most of his career as a college and team physician, including 17 years at Middlebury College. Frank was a standout, four-year varsity swimmer at Dartmouth, earning All American status and narrowly missing qualifying for the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics. He was also a member of Theta Delta Chi, Sphinx, Vigilantes, and the Interfraternity Council. He received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University, then joined his brother in general practice in Cleveland. In 1970 he moved to the staff of the University of Connecticut health service. He later became college physician and director of sports medicine at Middlebury, serving there until his retirement. Frank especially enjoyed his role as team physician for the college’s sports teams. A well-known figure in the community, he also served as de facto team physician for the Long Trail summer league soccer team, made up of many Middlebury College alumni with whom he developed lifelong friendships. Frank and his wife, Sally, were longtime civil rights activists. A seminal moment in his life was driving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. around the neighborhoods of Cleveland on a flatbed truck after the city had denied Dr. King a parade permit. Another passion was classic American and British cars. Many in Middlebury recall “Doc” driving his 1967 Lotus Super 7 around town. He was predeceased by Sally.