Bruce A. Irvine, 76, lawyer

Bruce A. Irvine, 76, of Newtown Square, a Delaware County lawyer, died Monday, Jan. 26, of coronary artery disease at home.

Mr. Irvine was a partner in the Media law firm Fronefield & deFuria for 40 years. He also was a successful prosecutor in the Delaware County District Attorney's Office under Stephen McKeown.

Mr. Irvine was Newtown Township's longtime solicitor and enjoyed practicing municipal law.

Community service was important to Mr. Irvine. He was past president of the Jaycees, Optimist and Rotary International Clubs. As an active member of Rotary, he could be found every Thursday night spending time with his friends and business associates.

A Philadelphia native who was reared in Merion, Mr. Irvine graduated from Malvern Prep. He gained a reputation as a formidable football player and was named to the All-InterAcademic League team and inducted into Malvern Prep's athletic hall of fame.

He was a graduate of Bucknell University and Villanova Law School.

Mr. Irvine joined the Army as part of the ROTC program at Bucknell and was stationed in Baumholder, Germany, and later in Aberdeen, Md. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.

Mr. Irvine spent summers in Avalon, N.J., where he maintained a second home, and in the village of Lanesville in Gloucester, Mass.

He was an accomplished fisherman.

"His pursuit of the 'big one' was a lifelong passion," his family said in a tribute. "He never missed an opportunity to captain his boat and share his love of the ocean with virtually anyone he could get to go along with him."

Mr. Irvine was all about family and faith. He was devoted to his wife, Gail Weitzel, and their children and grandchildren.

A lifelong Catholic, he will be remembered for his strength of character, bear hugs, and compassion for those less fortunate than himself, his family said.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by daughters Katharine Irvine, Elizabeth Irvine Smith, Patricia Irvine, and Christine Irvine Sledd; and six grandchildren.

Services were held Saturday, Jan. 31.