Bruce Westbrook Bergen

FORT MYERS Fla. – Bruce Westbrook Bergen died peacefully on Oct. 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of his wife and three daughters.

Born in New York, N.Y., on Jan. 2, 1942, to Ken and Emily Bergen, he was raised in Lincoln, Mass. Bruce spoke often of his idyllic childhood, including summers on his grandparents’ farm in Blooming Grove, Pa. Those halcyon days with his brother Roger, and sisters Nancy and Cabby, sowed the seeds of his deep connection to the land. Bruce graduated from Cornell University with a degree in agriculture, later deciding that practicing law would be necessary to support his farming habit.

While at Boston University School of Law, he was introduced to Carolyn Ellis on the tennis court. It was a perfect match and led to a cherished partnership of 56 years. They settled in Kennebunk, Maine, where they chanced upon a picturesque farm that was to become the foundation of 40 years of nurturing family, practicing law, and serving the community. Bruce took great joy in his daughters, sharing his love of the outdoors and sports, teaching them to drive on his John Deere tractor and the farm pick-up truck, and being an excessively vocal supporter at all their sporting events. Bruce was an attentive, fun-loving dad and encouraged each daughter to follow her chosen path. He would agree with his sisters’ sentiment that having three girls was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Bruce raised a herd of Belted Galloway cattle, made hay bales by the thousands, and spent many hours working in the large family vegetable garden. “Mr. Fix It” on the farm, Bruce also honed his talents in wood craftsmanship, fly fishing, golf, tennis, and skiing. He was self-taught on the guitar and harmonica, and had a knack for finding harmony most anywhere, especially in songs by John Denver.

Respected among his peers for his gentlemanly practice of law spanning nearly 50 years, Bruce specialized in real estate law and estate planning. His law career culminated with the founding of the community-oriented firm of Bergen and Parkinson, where mediation eventually became his most satisfying and rewarding area of expertise.

His contributions and commitment to his community are too numerous to list. Of particular note: farmland conservation, the Biddeford Free Clinic, Laudholm Farm and Trust, and serving for many years as a member and chair of the Kennebunk school district board of directors.

In their later years, Bruce and Carolyn split their time between Hope, Maine and Florida. They were active for 20 years in the Sanibel Island community before relocating to Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, Fla. They made many dear friends along the way.

More than his accomplishments, we hope you remember Bruce as we do: fun loving, affectionate, playful, kind, humble, authentic, a devoted and supportive partner to Carolyn, an amazing dad, and the best “Poppy” to his grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by surviving family: his wife, Carolyn; daughter, Kate Bergen Pierce, her husband Mike Pierce, and their children, Ella, Lincoln and Mac; daughter, Amanda Bergen Peressutti, her husband Gian-Carlo Peressutti, and their daughters Roma and Nola; daughter, Lucy Bergen, her husband Jay Weinberg, and their daughters Fela and Franny; and Bruce’s sister, Nancy Bergen.

A celebration of life will be held next year at Winnow Hill Farm in Kennebunk, Maine. The family is deeply appreciative of the compassionate care Bruce received in his final days at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Fla.

In lieu of flowers,

contributions in Bruce’s memory can be made to:

Maine Farmland Trust

97 Main St.

Belfast, ME 04915

(mainefarmlandtrust.org) or to:

Hope Hospice Development

9470 HealthPark Circle

Fort Myers, FL 33908

(hopehospice.org/donate)

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