Photos (c) Mark Hertzberg, 2018
There are numerous tributes to Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer who died yesterday in Scottsdale, Arizona. I am grateful to him for his friendship and for the Foreword he wrote for my book about the SC Johnson Research Tower in 2010.
His contributions to the World of Wright are well known. There is another part of Bruce’s story that few people know. In 2008 I befriended Marshall Jones, a young African-American man serving two consecutive life sentences in Wisconsin for a double homicide. I got to know Marshall when I interviewed him for a book about the criminal justice system. Circumstances led to my sending him my first two books about Wright’s work in Racine, a year apart. I was impressed by Marshall’s responses to the books and other Wright books I had people send him. I shared his insights with Bruce…who began corresponding regularly with him, as well. Marshall often mentioned how much he enjoyed hearing from Bruce. He was moved that such a giant would pay attention to him.
We had corresponded for many years and talked on the phone, but I did not get to meet Bruce and OsKar Munoz until February, 2011, when Bruce spoke at the opening of a Wright exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Bruce and OsKar Munoz at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Bruce greets Floyd and Caroline Hamblen.
Bruce and Keiran Murphy.
Bruce and OsKar returned to Wisconsin on April 27, 2011 for a Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation meeting for site owners at the Johnson Foundation. I was astounded to hear that Bruce had never been to Wingpsread before. I was pleased to be able to document his visit that raw April day.
Bruce is flanked by portraits of H.F. Johnson, Jr. and Frank Lloyd Wright before giving his remarks to the conferees.
Bruce signs books for Ann MacGregor from Wright on the Park (Mason City, Iowa), above, and Mike Lilek and Denise Hice from Wright in Wisconsin, below.
Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, 1930 – 2017.
Thank you, Bruce.
Wright in Racine 
Mark, These photographs of Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer,whom I have known well for some sixty years, are each remarkable and catch the essence of Bruce. You have captured him with great sensitivity in many differing situations and have come out with a total portrait of Bruce, the artist. And of course it takes an artist to accomplish that!
Well done tribute Mark!
Very nice. Great insight into the “Mensch”. I was holding out hope that I’d get to meet him and have him sign a few things for me, too, but sadly that is not to be. I also enjoyed the story about Marshall Jones and how the architecture moved him. Whatever became of him?
Marshall Jones is serving two consecutive life sentences in the Wisconsin prison system. I will be writing him to let him know of Bruce’s passing. I am certain he will be quite upset by the news.