SCARBOROUGH – Dr. Bruce H. Thurlow, lifelong resident of Scarborough, passed away at his Pine Point home on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, surrounded by his family. Bruce was born Dec. 17, 1937, at his childhood home in Pine Point. He graduated from Scarborough High School in 1956 and was a standout basketball and baseball player. Bruce and his loving wife of 62 years, Marguerite “Peggy” Thurlow, met as young teens and were together all through high school. They married on April 18, 1959, and had three sons, Michael, and twins John and Jeffrey. Bruce graduated from Gorham State Teachers College in 1960 and earned his first teaching position at Jack Junior High School in Portland. He later earned a master’s and then doctorate degree in education at the University of Maine in Orono. In 1971 Bruce began work as a guidance counselor at Cape Elizabeth High School. He was subsequently asked to become interim superintendent, a one-year position that turned into a 20-year career. Bruce also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern Maine teaching psychology and counseling theories to graduate students.After his retirement from Cape, Bruce opened his psychology practice at the Scarborough Professional Center. He later started the Southern Maine Learning Center for students with special needs. That business grew into a small private school Bruce named “The Day School” for children ages 10 to 18 who needed a different setting and approach for their education. Peggy and Bruce were enthusiastic dancers for more than 30 years and traveled all around the Northeast for dance events. Together they attended and supported all their children and grandchildren’s activities over the years. In retirement Bruce continued to go fishing with his sons, watching his favorite New England sports teams, enjoying his grandchildren, and giving back to his community. Bruce was predeceased by his mother Beatrice Googins Thurlow, his father Donald Howard Thurlow of Pine Point, two brothers and their wives, Donald and Cecilia Berry Thurlow and David and Marilyn Hamilton Thurlow, brother Fred Thurlow, nieces Brenda Thurlow Wilson and Jodine Millett Discatio, a nephew Robert “Bobby” Valente, and father-in-law Michael A. D’Amico. Bruce is survived by his wife, Peggy; three sons; Michael, his wife Malvina Lanasse, and their son Michael Brian and daughter-in-law Jessica; John, his sons Benjamin and Andrew, and their mother Susan Callahan Thurlow; and Jeffrey, his sons Danny and Ryan, and their mother Linda Thurlow; sister-in-law Emma Gochie Thurlow, “adopted” daughter Chris Hillman, many cousins, nieces and nephews in the Thurlow, Googins and Kelly families, his very close friend, Dale Doucette of Portland, and countless students, clients, faculty and school leaders, and friends.Peggy is thankful to her siblings, Mickey D’Amico, Donna D’Amico Valente and Ann-Marie D’Amico Libby, dear friend Kathleen Bayley and Cousin Dianne McLellan for their support. The family is grateful to Bruce’s outstanding caregiver, Stephanie, for her devotion, and to Hospice of Southern Maine.Springtime services will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022. Visiting hours will be 10-12 a.m., at Hobbs Funeral Home in Scarborough followed by a mass at 1 p.m., at St. Maximilian-Kolbe Church in Scarborough, and interment at Scarborough Memorial Cemetery. A more detailed biographical tribute to Dr. Thurlow appears online at: http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com/obits. Memorial donations in Bruce’s memory may be made to Project G.R.A.C.E, the Scarborough Historical Society, or to a charity of your choice.

Copy the Story Link