In his 31 years running Lindgren & Associates, Lindgren worked with countless local TV marketing personnel for a variety of broadcast groups across the country. His death prompted an outpouring of love, admiration and thanks from people who worked with Bruce.
Bruce Lindgren, owner of Lindgren & Associates, passed away this past week at his home in San Francisco. He was 81.
In his 31 years running Lindgren & Associates, Lindgren worked with countless local TV marketing personnel for a variety of broadcast groups across the country.
I knew Bruce and admired his passion for the business, his engaging personality, his sense of fashion style and his insight into marketing.
And I’m not only alone. His death prompted an outpouring of love, admiration and thanks from people who worked with Bruce.
I want to share some of what they had to say.
The television industry lost a great ‘ad man’ today … and I lost a very good friend. Bruce Lindgren truly helped make my career time and time again, had an encyclopedia-like brain to pick… was a hardass creative who would call my work exactly what it was (bad or good)… and was someone who would answer my calls any time — day or night. I met him as a green wide-eyed producer and worked with him through today — he boosted my spirits during the bad times, celebrated with me during the good ones and guided me along the right (and not always easy) paths … and opened doors for me that would have otherwise been locked.
I liked him.
I’ll miss our conversations … and nobody can really ever replace what was lost today. I was lucky to have crossed paths with Bruce … and my life and family are better off for it in every way.
Goodbye, Friend, Mentor and fellow word lover. (He would have said this post was too wordy and could use some work!)
Erik Candiani, Director of Marketing, WWBT, Richmond
I think some of us …t he lucky ones … get a guy like Bruce Lindgren in our lives. He’s the guy in my life that set me straight. Made me see more in myself than I thought possible. Pushed me into new directions and kept me focused when times got tough. He was one of a kind. I owe him so much. He was a wise and creative consigliere, not just on the job, but in life. I owe him my career. I owe him the kind of debts no one can really ever repay. He taught me. Changed me. And yet.. all this doesn’t capture the man. I fear my words may never be able to fully do that.
I’ll miss you Bruce. I’ll miss our talks. I’ll miss your counsel. I’ll miss taking advantage of a free lunch when my Niners beat your beloved Raiders.
RIP Bruce. See you on the other side (and the Raiders-Niners bet stands til then… )
Drew Fowler, Corporate Creative Services Manager, Valiant, Phoenix
We lost a giant in our industry today. And I lost a dear friend. Bruce Lindgren and I first met in 1981 at KRON-TV, at that time the NBC affiliate in San Francisco. I was the Executive News Producer. He was the Creative Services Director. We used to get into huge knock down fights in those days. I wanted control of the news graphics. He wouldn’t let go. And so it went.
Over the years we became close friends as I moved on to other news management positions and Bruce established a successful marketing consulting company, Lindgren & Associates. By the way, he was the only Associate! Bruce loved connecting people together when he thought the fit was right. He enjoyed mentoring those who were up and coming in the industry. He did this for hundreds of people over the years. He was in touch with his clients day and night, 7 days a week. He never stopped. That’s because he absolutely loved what he did. And he was damn good at it.
When the going got tough he always said, “Never let them see you sweat!”
Through it all, he had a wonderful and wicked sense of humor and a huge heart.
My thoughts go out to his wonderful wife Karen and their two children Kim and Scuyler.
Rest in love, my friend.
Larry Perret, News Consultant, Phoenix
Bruce was a dear friend and advisor — a brilliant ad man who spent his career connecting people to opportunities and audiences to local brands. He was a consummate pro who told you when your work was great … when it was only so-so … and I can’t recall a time when he wasn’t right. Local tv brands and creative services directors across the US lost a champion this week. I will miss him.
Wendy McMahon, President, ABC Owned Television Stations
Most of us can count on the fingers of one hand the people who have really impacted our life. A parent, a spouse or mate, a sibling … those who shaped the person we became…. For me that very short list starts with Bruce Lindgren. Few have left a greater legacy. Not just to the ‘business,’ but to the hundreds he counseled, helped, advised, nurtured. That was the kind of man he was. Small in stature, but giant in spirit and influence. Respected professional, but truly invested in the success of those he touched.
Bruce was my counsel on a very personal level. And we saw each other thru some of the most difficult moments of our lives. Me his counsel…. He, mine. The challenges of our children, the moments of self-doubt and decision, the highest highs and the lowest lows. Our History together stretches from the ’80s, and others have recounted the hundreds he mentored, connections made, dozens referred or recommended, the calls he took, advice offered, cautionary guidance, always with unvarnished truth. He also owned the mistakes made, admitted when he was wrong, and listened, really listened4 as both advisor and friend.
Above all he was a tender and caring soul, loved his family with passion and never wavering dedication and was a doting granddad. A lover of TV, but more a lover of life, and a giver to all he could share knowledge with.
We had many talks about his fear of the approaching end, to which he always said, “But we had fun and we did some good stuff!!” … and boy did we!
My heart is breaking today, but a lifetime of memories with Bruce heal the scar until we meet again.
Marshall Hites, Former Senior Vice President, Creative Services & Marketing, Tribune Broadcasting
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Paul, Thank you for posting this tribute to Bruce. He was truly an icon to so many of us in the broadcast marketing universe and will be dearly missed. Even at 81 years of age, his advice and counsel was as relevant today as when many of us were cutting our teeth in the business. He transcended eras, touched so many, and left his mark on broadcast stations across the country. RIP to this friend and ally of so many in our business.
-MH