Los Angeles science fiction fan Bruce Pelz passed away on Thursday, May 9th. He fainted during the early evening and was rushed to a nearby hospital where his heart stopped.

A former Worldcon Chairman, he chaired many other conventions and served in many ways thought fandom. Bruce was Fan Guest of Honor at nine science fiction conventions including the 1980 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston.

He published at least one piece of short fiction, "Cold Service" which appeared in Alternate Worldcons and Again, Alternate Worldcons. He co-edited The White Papers published by NESFA Press in 1996.

Bruce is survived by his wife Elayne and his daughter Cecy. Elayne has requested that nobody try to contact her at this time.

Memorials are at http://www.lasfs.org/lasfs/bruce/.

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Last Thursday night at the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society meeting, Larry Niven announced the death of an old friend, Bruce Pelz, sometime Chairman of the Board and President of LASFS, for many years the chief money gouger and Treasurer of LASFS, and retired Chief Cataloger of the UCLA Science Library. He also had the largest collection of fanzines in the universe, and a fairly extensive collection of comic books. He sold books as a retirement occupation.

Bruce was an old if not close friend. We could and did ask each other for favors and respect each other's confidences. If Bruce had any politics I am not aware of it. He was a good if sometimes irascible man with a Puckish sense of humor and a taste for sweet wines. He couldn't be induced to take care of himself, and after a brief attempt to get him hooked on some of the vitamins and boosters Niven and I take, I gave up trying. It was his life. He was younger than me by several years, but he looked older.

Bruce was probably the first person I met at LASFS on the first meeting I attended in 1964. In those days we lived in San Bernardino, and I didn't get to LASFS much: I worked for Ballistic Systems Division of the US Air Force and that took all my time and energy. But one night I found myself in Santa Monica after a day at RAND with another day to go, and it happed to be a Thursday night, so I went out to LASFS which then met at the Silverlake Park. Bruce was in charge of membership and dues collection, I believe; in any event he spoke with me and introduced me around. He did that sort of thing.

We used to play poker together. Bruce wasn't very good, which is surprising: I would have thought he would be. He became addicted to a game called Hell, and other games I don't play. We also played bridge several times. Time at games tables counts for knowing people. Sometimes counts a lot.

I never asked him a favor he wasn't willing to try to accomplish, and it is certain that LASFS would not have its own clubhouse without him. In his not very quiet way he influenced more people than he probably realized.

He was the original Secret Master of Fandom.

I don't know the Jewish prayers for the dead.

Requisat in pace, et lux eterna dona est, domine.

Jerry Pournelle

Updated May 16, 2002