Bruce R. Knight

It is with great sadness that the Knight Family announces the loss of Bruce Randall Knight on December 9, 2020, after a courageous battle with heart disease. We are so appreciative of the LVAD medical advances that were able to keep him in our lives these past four and a half years. Though it was hard on him, we are extremely grateful.

Bruce was born on February 26, 1952, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, to Earl and Jacqueline (Scott) Knight, the second of four children. He was an exceptional man who overcame many obstacles in his life to become a wonderful patriarch and provider to his family. He served in the US Navy from 1976 to 1982 and then went on to work as a defense contractor, testing weapon systems to make sure every sailor could operate and rely on these systems as designed. This lifetime career took him all over the world, flying in helicopters, riding in everything from small craft to large ships, and working with sailors and captains.

As a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Bruce aided anyone in need. He retired to be a “stay-at-home-grandpa” for his grandson Oliver and left his home for months to help care for his grandson Alex. He developed a strong love of aircraft within his grandson Robbie through a special trip to Dover Air Force Base and various air shows. He was an enthusiast of his grandson Ben’s artwork and photography, and very proud of his expertise in tiling. He asked Ben to tile a floor just so he could tell everyone how amazing his grandson is. He also influenced many others within his family. His nephew, Matthew Knight, credits him with inspiring his enlistment into the US Navy.

Bruce enjoyed reading Jack Reacher novels, fishing, golfing, photography, music, and cooking.  He was well known for his chili, “cowboy soup!” and his large batches of Christmas spritz cookies. Every year he used his favorite cookie press to make hundreds of cookies and then watched his children and their friends paint and decorate them. He had a brush with celebrity in 2011, when he played TV Chef for a day making Spanakopita on MPT Cooks. He loved to make this dish for every family gathering and holiday.

Bruce was preceded in death by his father Earl, his mother Jacqueline, and his brother Gary. He is survived by his wife Theodora; his children Jason and wife Carrie, Stephanie and husband Chris, Gregory and wife Sandy, and Jacqueline and husband Steve; his grandsons Ben, Oliver, Robbie, Alex and Liam; his siblings Pam and Robert; and many in-laws, nephews and nieces.

Due to the Corona Virus, the viewing and funeral will be privately held on December 17, 2020 with full Military Honors at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery in Maryland.

He will be missed and lovingly remembered.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Bruce Knight’s honor to the MedStar Washington Hospital Center for the Advanced Heart Failure Program at 110 Irving St. N.W. Suite EB-1001, Washington, DC 20010.