John "Bruce" Saulsbery

With heavy hearts, we share the news that John "Bruce" Saulsbery passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026. With his beloved wife and children by his side and other loved ones nearby, Bruce slipped away peacefully, following months of battling a rare, complicated, and hard-to-diagnose illness.

The family will be forever grateful to Dr. Frank Cortazar, who instantly recognized Bruce's condition, even though other doctors had not for years. We also thank Dr. Neena Kumar and Dr. Jorge Cerda for the quality care provided to Bruce in his final days, and for helping us understand that life for Bruce after this illness would not be consistent with his wishes.

Bruce was the son of the late Samuel "Jack" and Anna (Mottolese) Saulsbery. He grew up in West Albany and lived in Colonie nearly all his life. He graduated from Colonie Central High School in 1971 and earned his AOS in Electrical Construction and Maintenance from HVCC.

For the bulk of Bruce's 40-year career, he worked as an Industrial Electrician at GE Silicones, which later became Momentive Performance Materials. Over the years, he developed close friendships with the guys in the Waste Water Treatment shop, which still endure. Bruce received many recognitions and awards for his fine work, but the one he most cherished was the GE Phillippe Award, GE's most prestigious recognition of individual volunteerism and personal civic involvement, awarded to him for his work with FIRST Robotics.

Bruce was a long-suffering Giants fan and lifelong racing fan - NASCAR, drag racing, local stock cars, and muscle cars, he loved it all. Over the years, he owned a few impressive vehicles. His first was a green '69 Road Runner that factored into many wild adventures. Next came his cherished '71 Corvette, which he hand-washed and waxed every summer weekend until he put the 'Vette to bed each year when the first frost came. Bruce loved that car but sold it to make the down payment on a home for the family. Still in the garage is Bruce's 2013 Mustang GT 500, a toy he lovingly cared for and drove only on sunny summer days.

Bruce enjoyed going to NASCAR races – Daytona, Dover, Loudon, and Pocono; and each fall to Las Vegas for NHRA Nationals and the SEMA show. At races, Bruce always visited the pits to chat with drivers and the crews. During the years when friends raced Sprint and stock cars locally, Bruce was part of their pit crews. Bruce said Richard Petty sparked his interest in NASCAR when they met and briefly chatted in 1970 at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway during the first NASCAR Grand National race run there.

Bruce enjoyed exploring the US, especially family trips to Alaska, Tennessee, and anywhere there was a mountain or lake to visit. He loved to take early morning rides around Saratoga Lake, and drives to Lake George for Thursday fireworks and cruise-ins were a regular summer staple.

Bruce was a family man, a loving husband, and a devoted dad. He was a wonderful husband. Marriage for him meant partnership, mutual trust, respect, and support for one another. These were the principles that guided his 44 years of marriage and shaped the dynamic of his family. His love was deep and enduring. He had an easy-going nature; simple things were all he needed.

From the moment his kids were born, he was all-in. He was invested, present, and totally involved as his children grew. He was his daughter's biggest sports fan, never missing a high school or college game, and even stepped in to run the FIRST Robotics Team 250 at Colonie High School to support his son's passion for STEM. Nothing brought him more joy than the birth of his twin grandsons. He cherished every moment spent with them and was up for anything that allowed him time with his two favorite tiny people. Nothing cheered him more than a new photo or video of his grandsons, or better yet, a video chat or the opportunity to visit.

In 1999, Bruce had no idea that signing one little permission slip for his son to join a club would lead to a 26-year passion for him. Bruce felt Team 250 was such a worthwhile experience that he was compelled to stay long after his own children graduated from high school. As a mentor for 26 years, he was happy to share his knowledge while watching students blossom and progress in ways they may not have, if not for their experiences in FIRST Robotics. Over the years, Bruce built lasting relationships with students and mentors alike. Bonds were forged in the process of building a robot that would last a lifetime. FIRST was Bruce's extended family, with reunions happening at every competition. He looked forward to reconnecting with Alumni and talking shop with "dinosaur" mentors from other teams who had also been around forever.

Bruce believed in not just doing things, but in doing things the right way. These were challenging lessons for students, but they came to appreciate a job well done, and understood the importance of having pride in yourself and your work. Those processes gave students the confidence to take risks and be open to learning, knowing Mr. Saulsbery had their back. Few things impacted Bruce as greatly as seeing and hearing from past students and learning of their accomplishments. The pride he felt was not for his contribution to their success, but delight from knowing those experiences held value for students well beyond their high school years.

Bruce looked for ways to incorporate new skills in every aspect of the student experience. He was the driving force behind a positive cultural shift that prioritized broader learning that would set students up for success in life. Soft skills like public speaking, persistence in problem-solving, and teamwork moved the focus from simply building a robot to a more holistic experience for all involved. Bruce was an "idea guy" who quietly led by example, always thinking of ways to promote community involvement in both directions. Setting up factory tours, connecting with local businesses, taking part in community events, and showing students the importance of giving back to the community that supports them were high priorities for Bruce.

He is survived by his adoring wife and partner of 52 years, Deborah Bigelow-Saulsbery, beloved children, Jonathan Saulsbery of Colonie, and Kathryn (Robert) Saulsbery-DeFelice of South Windsor, CT, cherished grandsons Charles and Samuel DeFelice, his loving siblings, JoAnne Saulsbery of Colonie, Richard (Regina) Saulsbery of Latham, and Stephen (Cathy) Saulsbery of Sayre, PA, and many nieces, nephews, and a host of loyal friends.

His personal philosophy was to leave things better than he found them. His time on earth reflected that. Bruce rarely spoke, but when he did, it was worth hearing. If you chose to listen, you were undoubtedly going to learn something new or have a good laugh. He could teach a valuable lesson in under two sentences or deliver a witty observation in just a few words. Bruce's kindness, humor, and generosity touched everyone fortunate enough to have known him. We are all better for having had him in our lives, and we move forward with the memories and wisdom he shared with us all. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2026 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT.

To share a memory of Bruce or leave a special message for his family, visit the guest book below.