Sadly, on December 8, 2020 the loss prevention industry lost Bruce Williamson, a long-time LP professional and friend to many, to pancreatic cancer after a two-year battle with the disease. He passed away peacefully with his wife Susan and daughter Amanda by his side in New Jersey.
With a long career in retail loss prevention that spanned decades, starting with Bonwit Teller as the security director in their 59th Street store, to Lord & Taylor, to Bloomingdale’s where he rose to the operating vice president of loss prevention and audit, and finally to Metro One LPSG as the VP of logistics operations since 2002.
Good friend and industry partner Brad King described Williamson during his battle with cancer as a fighter who wanted to live and took a very clinical approach to understanding his treatment. King went on to say, “Bruce was a friend, a mentor, and confidant whose perspective I valued greatly. He was a larger-than-life kind of guy with a big bark and a huge heart. I’m going to miss him greatly.”
King spoke of the pinnacle of Bruce’s career at Bloomie’s (Bruce loved that job) and thought of it as the most memorable job he held—the passion for the organization and the people. While at Bloomie’s, Bruce successfully led the best shrink reduction the company had ever had.
Bruce was a graduate of Kean University where he received a BS in management science/finance and spent 10 years as a paramedic in Perth Amboy, NJ. He adored his wife Susan and his daughter Amanda—“Mandy” as he called her, who was the light of his life. Everyone who knew Bruce knew of his passion for golfing, boating, fishing, and basically anything to do with the Jersey Coast. Bruce, you will be greatly missed.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I personally will forever be grateful to Bruce for entrusting me with the corporate training position at Bloomingdale’s that spring-boarded my career significantly.
