Bruce A. Chalmers ‘59 died on September 16, 2026, in Bridgton, Maine.

(The following was provided by the Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Services on September 16, 2026:)

Bruce A. Chalmers ’59

It is with great sadness that the family of Bruce Anderson Chalmers announces his passing on September 16, 2026. Bruce was surrounded by his loved ones, with his beloved wife, Laurie, at his side. A man of vision and integrity, he lived a life marked by devotion to his family, his community, and the businesses he helped build.

Bruce was born on November 10, 1937, in Biddeford, Maine, to Herbert and Margaret (Marney) Chalmers. After living in Saco, Maine; Brockton, Massachusetts; and Barrington, Rhode Island, the family moved to Bridgton in 1945. Bruce graduated from Bridgton High School in 1955 and Bowdoin College in 1959.

After college, Bruce served for six years in the Army Reserves with the 619th Transportation Company and was instrumental in the construction of the Bridgton Army Reserve Center. In 1960, he joined his father, Herb, at Chalmers Insurance and Real Estate. His brother, Bill, joined the agency in 1973, beginning a business partnership that would span fifty years. In 1991, Bruce and Bill co-founded NAHGA Claim Services. Today, both businesses remain in the family, with Chalmers Insurance led by the fourth generation and NAHGA Claim Services by the second.

Bruce was a respected leader in the insurance, real estate, and small-business communities at both the state and national levels. He served as president of the Maine Young Agents and the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Maine and held leadership positions with the National Board of Insurance Agents. He also served as president of the Western Maine Board of Realtors, was a director of the Maine Chamber of Commerce, and chaired several state and national small-business initiatives, including Maine’s delegation to the White House Conference on Small Business. He worked diligently to improve workers’ compensation in Maine.

A proud Mainer, Bruce cared deeply about his state and community. As a teenager, he was among the founding members of the Bridgton Historical Society and later served as its president. He held leadership positions with numerous Bridgton organizations and chaired the Planning Board, Budget Committee, and Chamber of Commerce. He was also a director of Norway National Bank and Canal Bank and an incorporator of Norway Savings Bank. Bruce served on the Board of Trustees of Bridgton Academy and later became its chair. Bruce was instrumental in bringing businesses to Bridgton, including Howell Laboratories. He was a trustee of Walker Memorial Hall for fifty years and a sixty-year member of the Bridgton Lions Club.

Bruce had a remarkable ability to recognize a need and transform an idea into reality. As one of many examples, he recognized that Bridgton would benefit from an ice arena and helped bring the project to fruition. In recognition of his contributions, the arena was named the Chalmers Ice Arena.

Bruce’s service extended well beyond Bridgton. He was a founding member of both Camp Sunshine and the Ham Foundation, serving on and chairing both boards. He served on the committee established to bring a civic center to Portland and later chaired the board of that arena, the Cumberland County Civic Center. Bruce also served with many other civic and charitable organizations, including the Pine Tree Boy Scout Council and the Kennebec Girl Scout Council. A loyal Bowdoin Polar Bear, Bruce served as a class agent, co-chaired his fiftieth reunion, and received the Polar Bear Alumni Award.

Bruce worked on many political campaigns and encouraged citizens to become actively engaged in the political process. His commitment to civic participation led to frequent invitations to speak on the subject at the state and national levels.

Bruce was an accomplished athlete, and excelled at many sports, but skiing and golf were his greatest passions. In high school, he was named the Maine Ski Meister. At Bowdoin, he captained and coached the ski team and later coached the Bridgton High School girls’ ski team. In the 1960s, believing that every local child should have the opportunity to ski, he founded a volunteer-led after-school ski program that continues today and has introduced thousands of young people to the sport.

Bruce learned golf from his father and loved the game throughout his life. For him, there were no bad days on the golf course. It was a place to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. Over the years, Bruce recorded four holes-in-one.

In the early 1990s, when the Bridgton golf course was at risk of being sold for development, Bruce organized a group of local citizens who successfully purchased it to preserve it “for the community.” He became president of the club, and he and Bill later spearheaded its expansion to eighteen holes. Bruce was thrilled to record a hole-in-one on the opening day of the second nine in 1995. Today, Bridgton Highlands Country Club remains locally owned—a lasting reflection of Bruce’s vision and love for his hometown.

Bruce received many honors throughout his lifetime. In 1970, he was named one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” He received the Maine Youth Camping Association’s Gulick Award and was inducted into the Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame and the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. Together with his brother, Bill, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Maine Business Hall of Fame.

For all his accomplishments, Bruce’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by Laurie MacPherson, his beloved wife of fifty-two years and forever his “bride”; their children, Anne Irene, James, and Thomas; and his sons, Andrew and Matthew, from his first marriage to Sandra Kidder. He is also survived by his children’s spouses: Debra A., wife of Andrew; Tanya, wife of Matthew; Keith Fleming, husband of Anne; Katelyn, wife of Jim; and Debra D., wife of Tom. Each held a special place in Bruce’s heart, and he loved them all dearly.

Bruce is also survived by eight grandchildren: Ethan Chalmers; Ryan and Lindsay Chalmers; Madeleine, Cora, and Lillian Fleming; and Brady and BrittaLouise Chalmers. He treasured each of them, and they will always cherish memories of golf cart rides, golf and boat-driving lessons, swimming in Highland Lake, making s’mores after his legendary lobster bakes, listening to his tale of the three bears at the driving range, and countless other happy times together.

He is also survived by his brother, Bill, and Bill’s wife, Beverly. Bill was far more than a brother to Bruce—he was his business partner for fifty years, his best friend, and his lifelong confidant. Bruce also loved and was close to his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Herb and Marney Chalmers, and the sister he adored, Beth Cossey.

Bruce led an extraordinary life defined by leadership, service, friendship, and devotion to his family and community. He was deeply grateful for those around him and was always the first to say, “Thank you.”

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Stephen Barter and to the caregivers at Woodlands Memory Care of Bridgton for their compassionate care.