I've been out of touch with TOP, the website and Bruce Steinberg for a few years. I just read that he had passed away at the end of 2007 and my heart is breaking.
I went to a TOP show about 4 or so years ago--I think it was in Petaluma. I had gotten to know Larry Braggs fairly well and had just left from talking with the two of them after the show. I stopped at a 7-11 just up the street, saw Bruce and had the most amazing exchange with him. I remember we were both buying bad food, and I think he commented on my poor choice of wine as well. He was so open and engaging...so well-spoken, and funny. Bruce made me laugh.
We must have talked for 2 hours in the 7-11 parking lot after we left the store. I was born in Oakland and I sensed the passion and
connection he felt as he talked about some of his experiences there in the 60's and 70's. He told me all about the Back to Oakland sign and he
shared what a project it was to get that freeway sign from his head to the album cover. He even had some of his work with him in the car (is that passion, or
what?!). He was so proud to show me all of his treasures. He actually had a lot of the pictures that you see at his gallery website, with him in his car, the
night we met (black and white pics of TOP, the It's a Beautiful Day album cover design, and a whole bunch of photos taken in the Oakland area). He even
showed me the Bump City album cover design in all its evolutionary stages. It was interesting to discover that he'd changed his mind at least a few times
before he finally decided on the fist/chicken bone image. Bruce was a story teller, but he was a good listener too.
We talked about our children, how much we love them and hurt for them when they make bad choices. We e-mailed back and forth and even
talked on the phone sometimes. From the moment I met Bruce, I felt as though I'd always known him. He was so intelligent, funny, creative, witty and
kind. Bruce had a flair for the written and spoken word. He was eloquent, articulate and I always looked forward to reading his posts on this message
board.
I'm so very sad that he is not in this world anymore.Of course I'm kicking myself for letting so much time go by. I was actually looking to see if I could find him on Facebook tonight, and was crushed to learn that he had passed away. I had asked him so many times to come to Seattle and go to a show with me--he wanted to but had so many projects going on, and was just so dedicated to the people and things he loved. We always talked and laughed about how classy and cool it was to meet at a 7-11 ; ).I just wanted to post this message to share with all of you how Bruce affected my life for the better in just one brief, but memorable interaction at (I'm so proud to say this) the 7-11, just up the road from the Mystic Theater in Petaluma.
This is very sad news.Rest in peace sweet Bruce-you made such a beautiful impression and my heart will never forget....Love, Beth
