It is with great sadness that we share that after a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Bruce Pasternack, CEO of Special Olympics from 2005-2007, passed away on 13 January, 2021.
Prior to Special Olympics, Bruce spent more than 28 years as a Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton and was Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Evaluation at the Federal Energy Administration (predecessor of the Department of Energy) during President Ford’s administration. He was a published author and writer, penning two books on business and countless articles printed by outlets such as the Harvard Business Review. In the early days of his career, he worked as an aerospace system engineer.
In addition to being a member of the SOI Board of Directors and Executive Committee prior to becoming CEO, Bruce served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards over the years ranging from academic institutions to causes dear to his heart including environmental and Jewish community-focused organizations. In more recent years, he served as a long-time and valued member of the Special Olympics Northern California Board of Directors.
An accomplished professional and civic leader, he was also a great lover of sports (especially baseball) and music (Motown). His vison, energy, humor, and kindness were hallmarks of his SOI leadership and personal life.
His proudest legacy no doubt was his family, including his daughter Joanne, a longtime and still active Special Olympics volunteer, Board member (SONoCal) and advocate herself. We honor and are the beneficiaries of Bruce’s many significant and lasting contributions to the Special Olympics movement, especially our SONA region, and send the condolences to his family.