Bruce M. McAllister, 78
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Bruce Mitchell McAllister, 78, of Main Street, died Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at home, with his loving partner of 50 years and husband since May 2007, James Fichter, by his side.
Born in Blackwell, Okla., on July 30, 1937, son of Fenton E. and Mary Catherine Mitchell McAllister, he earned a master of science in biology from the University of Oregon.
An Army veteran, he served from 1961 to 1963 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Department of Dermatology, headed by Dr. D. Joseph Demis.
Mr. McAllister followed Dr. Demis to St. Louis, where he met his husband, and then to Albany (N.Y.) Medical College to run its laboratory. The couple moved in 1967 to New York City, where they enjoyed arts and music, especially the opera and ballet, while Mr. McAllister taught science at Lawrence High School on Long Island.
In 1982, they bought a weekend and retirement home in Shushan, N.Y., where he developed his love of gardening. There he prepared elegant meals for their friends and enjoyed reading, accompanied by a succession of Scotties. He went to Rock Garden Society meetings and created his own rock garden. Both enjoyed ballet and chamber music concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
They moved in 2010 to Williamstown, where Mr. McAllister delighted in their large garden and took solace in nature even as his illness progressed. He was lovingly tended at home by his husband and other caregivers and will be greatly missed.
He was, for most of his life, an energetic, engaging, articulate and outgoing man, kind and considerate of friends and acquaintances and with a broad range of interests until his long, debilitating illness robbed him of all of that.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Donations in Mr. McAllister's memory may be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires through Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.