After a long illness, Bruce Douglas Cagwin of North Truro died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Sept. 4, 2021. He was 73.
Born and raised in Fayetteville, N.Y., Bruce was the son of Douglas and Nancy Cagwin. In the summer of 1969, he was heading to Maine when he took a quick detour to Provincetown. A family legend says Bruce kept a postcard from Truro in his college dorm room. He would say, “I’m going to live there one day” — and he did, settling on the Outer Cape for good after graduation.
Bruce met the love of his life, Janice, and her daughter, Jessica, in Provincetown. After several years, they traded the hustle and bustle of 1970s Provincetown for an antique Cape in North Truro, which they spent years improving and expanding, hosting a rotating cast of friends, relatives, and friends of friends.
Bruce’s love of the beach was a constant. Hardly a day went by between May and September when he didn’t swim. His children and grandchildren will always remember swimming and playing in the waves with him. The whole family felt privileged to spend every day of the summer in a place so special.
Bruce began work as a plumber’s apprentice in 1972. He earned his master’s license and ran Royal Flush Plumbing until illness forced his retirement. His business success afforded his family a comfortable life, and he instilled the value of hard work on his children and his employees. Even after he scaled back his business, he stayed in touch with many loyal customers.
Bruce served as chair of the Truro School Committee, and as a member of the school building committee in 1990, he helped oversee construction of the new Truro Central School.
Bruce was a member of the congregation at St. Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown, serving on the vestry for many years and supporting community outreach on the Outer Cape. As a board member of the Pamet Harbor Yacht and Tennis Club, he found another place that married his love of people and the water.
In addition to his wife, Janice Parky, he leaves his daughter, Jessica Oami and husband Paul Frisina of Los Angeles; son Montgomery and wife Emily of West Newton; and son Jenkin and wife Aline of Scituate. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Marcello and Angelo Frisina, Juliana Oami, and Remy and Dylan Cagwin.; by his brother, Lee Cagwin, and wife Jane of Henderson Harbor, N.Y.; by his sisters Anne Hagstrom and husband Gunnar of Yarmouth, Maine and Gail Meyer and husband Rick of Saranac Lake, N.Y.; and by many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. His dog, Piper, will also miss him.
Bruce will be remembered with a celebration of his life at a date to be announced. For information, visit bit.ly/brucecagwin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce’s name to St. Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown.
