Robert Bruce Corea died on June 3, 2020, at Harbor Point in Centerville, where he had been in hospice care for four months. He was 76.
Bruce was a native of Provincetown, born on July 6, 1943, at the Freeman Street home of his aunt. He grew up on Cottage Street with his parents, the late Joseph and Florence (Fields) Corea; his brother, Joey; and his late sister, Donna. The three Corea siblings were part of a large group of West End kids who spent their summers in and around the water, swimming or diving for nickels, and their winters sledding or having snowball fights on Cottage Street. When they were older, the Corea boys and cousins would go ice fishing and ice sailing with Papa Joe Corea when Pilgrim Lake (now East Harbor) would freeze.
Bruce loved nature and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brother; his “other brother,” John “JB” Browne; his cousins, Peter Cabral and David Nadeau; and Bobby Palheiro, Charlie Souza, Donald Silva, Bob and Dick Henrique, and Tommy Thomas.
Bruce had a great sense of humor and a talent for landing a joke and sinking a pool shot. He was an amazing and generous cook who would often deliver baked sea clams, chowder, and lobster dishes to friends and neighbors. Bruce could build a brick or stone fireplace, create a driftwood basement (thanks to the late Milan Costa), and tend to his prolific organic vegetable garden. He was a skillful basketball player: in his senior year at Provincetown High School, he was captain of the team and was tagged “Radar Wrists” for his high-scoring side shots by the Cape Cod Standard-Times.
Following graduation, Bruce worked on the Papa Joe with his father and brother until he was drafted into the Army. Returning to Provincetown in the late ’60s, he worked days lobstering with Al Silva on the Christy Boy and nights for Sal and Josephine Del Deo at Sal’s Restaurant. Bruce and his wife, Betsi, were married in 1972 and moved to their new home in Truro the following year. Soon thereafter, Bruce worked with the Mass. D.P.W. in Yarmouth and Truro and would fish weekends on his lobster boat, the Buster. He continued lobstering until 2014, when he sold his business and 800-pot license for health reasons.
In addition to Betsi, Bruce is survived by their daughter, Seanna Corea of North Truro; his daughter by a previous marriage, Erika Corea of Hyannis; his brother, Joe, and wife Marjorie (Gonsalves) Corea of North Truro; and his brother-in-law, Tom Prada, of North Truro. Bruce was predeceased by his sister, Donna (Corea) Prada. He also leaves his nieces and nephews: Shannon Corea of Truro, Abby Corea of Truro, Sherry Prada of Eastham, Amy (Prada) Rogers and husband Michael of North Truro, Tommy Prada and partner Stephanie Peters of Provincetown, and Todd Prada and fiancée Grace Ryder-O’Malley of Provincetown; as well as nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, 20 grandnieces and grandnephews, three godchildren, and many cousins and loving friends.
Due to the current health crisis, Bruce’s burial will be private. He will be laid to rest beside his and Betsi’s son, Stephen Robert Corea, at New South Truro Cemetery. A funeral Mass to honor Bruce’s life will be held at a time and date to be announced.
Contributions in Bruce’s name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, 2095 Main St., Brewster 02631. To share a memory or leave a condolence, visit the online guest book at gatelyfuneralservice.com.
