November 2, 2017
Hirsch, Bruno
Bruno John Hirsch, a resident of Canton, died Thursday, October 26, 2017 at CuraHealth Hospital in Stoughton. He was 82. Bruno was born February 28, 1935 in Ranka, Latvia, the only son of Janis and Marta (Kamene) Hirss. He had 2 older sisters Ilga Rudzroga and Gaida Rudzitis. His early days were spent attending school and helping with chores at home. In the early 1940’s, Bruno and his family were forced to flee Latvia due to the incoming Russian invasion and went south by train through Poland to Germany settling for a while in Munich, Germany until the war ended. In 1949 Bruno and his family were relocated from Germany to the United States. They were initially living in Brookline, Massachusetts with their sponsor family. He graduated from Brookline High School and enlisted in the US Army where he was deployed back to Germany. After completing his tour of duty, he returned to Boston and pursued higher education and became active in the Latvian community.
He enjoyed folk dancing , fishing, playing volleyball and other sports. He was an active member for over 55 years in the Latvian fraternity of Fraternitas Metropolitana. His father, Janis bought lakefront property on Cape Cod and built a summer house so the family could enjoy the fresh air, sun and swimming in the lake and seashore. This quickly became a fun destination as friends came to spend their summer vacations and to party with their friends. Bruno loved to ride around the lake in his motorboat and to water ski. He taught many, many people how to ski!
He met his future bride at this vacation spot and on May 16, 1964, he married Gunta Lapins. Bruno brought his bride home to his newly built house in Canton,Massachusetts. Bruno worked in construction, building senior housing developments in eastern Massachusetts and Gunta worked as a nurse. Both loved to spend time gardening. This hobby later led them to buying a greenhouse-florist-shop-garden center in Walpole, Massachusetts which they operated for over 20 years.
When it was time to retire, they sold the greenhouse and started traveling. They made frequent trips to Latvia to visit relatives. They loved to travel to Mexico, the islands and other tropical locations and to sit on the beach watching the sunsets. As time passed, Bruno found that extensive walking was becoming difficult but he discovered that cruising was a great way to still travel and see the world. They went to Patagonia, Chile, Cape Horn, European river cruises, Alaska and just recently returned from a cruise along the Norwegian coastline and enjoying the spectacular views of the fjords and mountains.
In addition to his wife, Gunta (Lapins) Hirsch, he is survived by his niece, Anda Spalvins, godchildren, Kari Bierbaum and Lars Stolpestad, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews in Latvia.
Relatives and friends will be attending a memorial service on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10:30 AM at the Latvian Lutheran Church, 58 Irving St., Brookline, MA. Interment is private. Donations will be accepted in memory of Bruno Hirsch and will be forwarded to Latvia to be used in ministry to special needs children in Latvia. Checks may be made to Gunta Hirsch indicating “Special needs children” on the memo line and will be forwarded directly to Latvia.