Bruce Ian Meader

Bruce Ian Meader passed away on January 14, 2024, at his home in Abbott, TX, at age 68.

Born in Vallejo, CA, on July 28, 1955, Bruce was a “military brat” and his early years were spent accompanying his parents and sister around the Pacific as his father was a submarine officer in the Navy.  His formative years were in Washington D.C., where he attended St. Stephen’s School.  Later he briefly attended George Mason University eventually transferring to Carnegie Mellon University where he earned both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts Degrees.  Following his education, Bruce assumed a teaching position as an instructor in graphic design at the University of Michigan for ten years.  In 1993, he moved to a faculty role in the Department of Graphic Design at Rochester Institute of Technology where he taught for 26 years until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2019.  He was a beloved teacher to his many students, being characterized by them as amazing, generous, mentor, friend, and lover of fine typography in graphic design.

Bruce was highly respected by his friend, Massimo Vignelli, and an integral person in the development of the Vignelli Center at RIT.  As a teacher he was uncompromising about typographic detail, precision, and the application of formal Modernist values.  He was highly admired by his colleagues and friends, especially Roger Remington and Josh Owen. Remington, RIT’s Vignelli Distinguished Professor of Design Emeritus remembers Bruce as “my best friend and a consummate professional in fine typography and graphic design.” Owen, RIT’s Director of the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, remembers Bruce as "a dear friend, a true keeper of the design flame, and a masterful steward of design education.”

Bruce is remembered by his daughter, Carolynn, as “the world’s best father and grandfather, a phenomenal designer, the biggest Beatles fanatic, a true rock ‘n’ roll enthusiast, a genuine and brilliantly loving soul, and an irreplaceable best friend.”

Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Commander Bruce Irvine Meader; his mother, Carol Coram Meader; and sister, Susan Cherry.  He is survived by his loving daughter, Carolynn Rose Howk (Meader); son-in-law, Brandon Curtis Howk, Jr.; grandchildren, Averey Elizabeth Howk, Brandon “Tripp” Curtis Howk III, and Camdon Curtis Howk; and nephew, Scott Cherry.

The great loves in Bruce Meader’s life were his daughter, Carolynn, and her family, his many friends, fine typography, graphic design and, of course, the Beatles.