Bruce Malkin

Bruce Malkin of Alexandria, Virginia passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022. He is preceded in death by his parents Samuel and Reba Malkin. Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Joanne R. Malkin, beloved daughters, Deborah Joy Block and Jennifer Malkin-McDade, and cherished granddaughter, Kaya Soul Malkin-McDade. Born to a high-school principal and loving homemaker in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Bruce took on academic challenge at a very early age. He attended magnet school Central High' s advanced program, graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in economics, took his MS in economics from the London school of economics the following year and one year later had completed his PhD coursework at the Institute of international studies at the University of Geneva – – the latter all in classes using his high school French. While in London and Geneva he traveled extensively in Europe, and having passed the US State Department's Foreign Service Exam in his last year at the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Washington to take up his commission in the US foreign service. Bruce's overseas postings included Kingston Jamaica as Consular Officer, Guadalajara, Mexico and Singapore as Commercial Attaché. His last thirteen years of his 34 year career he served at the State Department in Washington as the specialist on Human Rights, Worker Rights and UN Affairs in the East Asia/Pacific Regional Bureau. In retirement, Bruce sought out meaningful community service near his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, and among many projects received training in Teaching of English as a Second Language, using this new expertise during most of the remaining years of his retirement to teach adult students in numerous classes in the Northern Virginia area. He also was an avid participant in Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club serving as President for two terms, and participating in many community service projects earning Kiwanis's Hixon Award and Tablet of Honor for his service. At their 2018 Annual Gala Mount Vernon's United Community Ministries named Bruce and his wife Joanne as awardee's of their Gerald W Hyland Humanitarian Award for their work in the local community. By 2012 it became clear that what had been merely annoying neurological symptoms for the preceding ten years were more serious, but despite many medical consultations including with senior clinicians at Johns Hopkins and NIH's Center for Undiagnosed Diseases, Bruce never received a specific diagnosis for his slowly progressive neuropathy. Choosing to maintain as normal a life as possible under the circumstances, the Malkins adapted their home and found wonderful, loving caregivers who assisted Bruce from 2013 until his passing. Slowly robbed of mobility and dexterity in these later years, Bruce continued to find joy in his family and many local and lifelong friends, traveled as much as possible, and in very recent years developed a very rich and varied virtual life for himself connecting with old and new friends locally, in Europe and worldwide chatting and debating and attending seminars and classes on Zoom and Facebook. Bruce's early marriage to Dohne Benson ended in divorce, but produced his two lovely daughters, Deborah and Jennifer, the apples of his eye. In June, 1988, he married Joanne Rinehart who survives him. Despite professional or other accomplishments, Bruce's greatest love was his family and also his many friends. Bruce had a great gift for maintaining friendships, such that his current close friends included those he had known since fourth grade, through high school, university and the present. He will be missed for many things, among them his warmth and humor and sense of decency. He leaves a huge gap in the life of his family, that even their deep pride in his life and accomplishments will not fill. A funeral service will be held at Beth El Hebrew Congregation (3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA, 22304) on Friday, February, 18, 2022 at 2:30PM with a graveside service to follow at Home of Peace Cemetery (601-699 S Payne St, Alexandria, VA 22314).

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Bruce Malkin

February 15, 1946 - February 13, 2022