Our beloved Bruce Kohn passed away peacefully Sunday morning, April 7, 2024 after a long and valiant struggle against cancer.

Bruce Rudy Kohn (son of the late Martha and Robert Kohn) was born in St. Louis, Missouri (Sept. 13, 1959). He attended schools in the Clayton school district and then Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 1981. He moved to Tucson, Arizona where he spent the rest of his life. He worked as an environmental engineer in the automotive industry developing auto emission testing systems for entire countries, states and agencies around the world.

Bruce was the very definition of a “Renaissance Man.” A talented musician, he mastered piano, guitar, flute, and trumpet and loved to accompany group singing at parties and events. He was also drawn to auto engineering and in high school, purchased several broken-down cars and completely rebuilt them. A brilliant and talented engineer, his creative and innovative technical solutions were universally admired by colleagues and sought after by clients.

Bruce pursued a bewildering number of passions with an awe-inspiring degree of dedication and focus. While still in high school, he earned his private pilot’s license and flew small aircraft locally and across the country for pleasure and work trips. He especially enjoyed flying friends to the Grand Canyon for camping and backpacking trips. When considering applying to medical school, Bruce took on advanced medical studies and volunteered in local hospitals. He enjoyed motorcycling, riding horses, hiking, running and was meticulous about healthy eating and living.

Bruce found love and true happiness marrying Larysa and becoming a father later in life. He delighted in carefully planning all details of family trips around the world with his wife, young son and stepson. He found true fulfillment as a father and family man.

Even the diagnosis of cancer couldn’t slow him. He was driven to pursue all possible medical therapies until the end and worked solving professional challenges up to nearly his last day. He died far too soon, but peacefully in his home surrounded by family.

He is survived by Larysa (wife), Austin (son), Vlad (stepson), Joel and Daniel (brothers) and many life-long close friends. There will be a celebration of his life in Tucson, May 5 for close friends and family. Contributions in his name should be directed to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ or the Tucson Jewish Community Center.