Dr. D. Bruce Erickson, 66, Fargo, professor emeritus in the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, died Wednesday December 23, in Bethany Retirement Living, Fargo. The memorial service is Saturday, January 9th at 2:00 PM in Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo.
Bruce earned a bachelor's degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and a doctoral degree from Yale University, both in Mathematics. Bruce was proud to have been the last doctoral student of Oystein Ore, who also produced luminaries such as Grace Hopper and Marshall Hall. Following an initial faculty appointment at Concordia College, he accepted a position at NDSU in the Mathematics department in 1975, hired as part of a small group of faculty that would go on to create a major in Computer Science. He was a founding member of the Computer Science department when it was officially formed.
Bruce coordinated the undergraduate program in Computer Science for many years. He also coordinated and gave generously to the departmental scholarship program for undergraduates. Bruce's main academic interest was undergraduate teaching. He always felt that was his calling. He was also 'famous' for teaching the mathematical foundations of computer science, a core course in the graduate program. Bruce was also instrumental in the development and delivery of NDSU Computer Science courses for AT&T personnel who came to the university from all over the country for education that was specialized to their work.
Bruce was an accomplished musician who played the tuba, euphonium and baroque music on the recorder. He played in the NDSU concert band, was a regular with the Lake Agassiz concert band, and subbed for the FM Symphony. You always knew when he had a gig because he would come to work dressed in a tuxedo.
He is survived by his wife M. Joy Erickson (Fine Arts, NDSU), children Amy (spouse Uwe Burghaus, Chemistry, NDSU) and Nels, and grandson Quinn.