Bruce Tedd Segler

Bruce Tedd Segler, of Toledo, OH and formerly of Fullerton, CA passed in his sleep, with his loving wife by his side at Parkcliffe Memory Care Community in Northwood, OH on June 12, 2025. He was 64 years old.

Bruce was born on April 2, 1961 in Garfield Heights, OH to Norman and Dorothy Segler. Bruce moved to Southern California as a young child and resided in Orange County until 2020. He was a dedicated husband, father, and the world’s best grandpa. Bruce’s world revolved around his wife, Shirley and the night sky. Bruce was an avid stargazer, owning many telescopes and often planning his year and trips around the New Moon. Bruce loved his family, the stars, football, his Volkswagens, classic rock, and playing guitar.

In adolescence, Bruce met Jerry from a large Irish-Catholic Family, The Monahan’s. His friendship with all eight Monahan siblings grew until he was unofficially, but kind of officially adopted by the Monahan’s, Frank and Dolores. Bruce and Shirley were married in the Monahan home. Bruce and Shean were best of friends, great intellectuals, but when together acted like mischievous 12 year-olds. One of Bruce’s dreams came true when he was able to travel to Australia and stargaze in the Southern hemisphere with Shean and Tom. The Monahan’s have and always will be considered Bruce’s family.

Bruce is a 1979 graduate of Loara High School. Bruce played defensive and offensive tackle on the varsity football team when Loara won the CIF championship against Servite in 1979. He also achieved great success in weightlifting and was part of the 1090 Club at Loara, which means he achieved a combined one-rep max of 1,090 pounds or more in the squat, bench press, military press, and deadlift. Bruce’s impressive strength was a source of great pride, he often told the story of squatting 750 pounds. Until the end, he would challenge most anyone to arm wrestle.

Bruce met his beloved wife Shirley at Hunt-Wesson in Fullerton, CA. Bruce was a security officer and Shirley was his manager. Shirley saw his potential and knew that his position was a dead end, so she made a call and got him an interview that would change his life forever. After he left Hunt-Wesson, he was insistent on taking Shirley out. She politely declined many of his offers, but eventually accepted. They were married in 1988, instantly earning Bruce the title of Grandpa. Bruce and Shirley made many memories over the years, taking many trips including road trips to National Parks, oftentimes accompanied by their grandchildren. Bruce and Shirley were always up for an adventure; visiting cemeteries and getting lost was always a welcome part of their trips. As previously mentioned, Bruce loved to stargaze and was ecstatic to share this passion with his grandchildren. He shared his favorite stargazing sites with his family and close friends, in the White Mountains, East Mojave Desert and the mountains above Death Valley.

Bruce had an accomplished career as a security professional, writing for and presenting at multiple national security conferences. Much of his career was at J. Paul Getty Museum where he started as a security guard and was promoted to Security Manager, a position he held until retirement in 2018. Bruce took great pride in his work and had a very high standard for his own performance. He knew every inch of both Museum campuses and was (in our opinion) the foremost authority on all things safety and security at the Getty. During his time at the Getty, Bruce had the opportunity to meet US Presidents, Vice Presidents and their families, as well as several celebrities. He loved to share stories from these visits, but mostly would revel in each one that was successful and went without incident. Bruce was fortunate enough to accompany the Getty Conservation Institute staff to China and Honduras for important conservation and cultural research, while assessing and maintaining the safety and security of staff and antiquities. Though he was a serious man, he was well respected by his colleagues, and often shared laughs with them. After his retirement, he would visit the Museum with family and playfully salute the guards and staff that he worked with for all of those years. Bruce made many lifelong friends while working at the Getty. One of his most cherished friends was Wolfgang Luka whom he met early in his time as a gallery guard. Their bond over philosophy, stargazing, strength, grit, and Volkswagens was one that very few understood, but was revered by all who bore witness to it.

But all would agree, in Bruce’s eyes Shirley was above all else. He was the kind of man that would call her every night before leaving work, to make sure she knew he was on his way home to her. A line from their wedding song, “Forever and Ever, Amen”, perfectly sums up the final weeks of Bruce’s life; “I’ve already forgotten every woman but you, oh darlin’, I’m going to love you forever and ever… Amen”. He never forgot that he loved her.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Shirley Gaff-Segler; his children, Perry (Tammy) Miller of Fullerton, CA, and Paula (Brian) Liga of Rainier, OR; his siblings, Norm (Dixie) Cegelnik and Claudia Schmidt; his grandchildren, Ashley Dahm, Troy (Sean) Miller, Kenneth Liga, and Cooper Miller; and his great-grandson, Owen Fulton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Norman and Dorothy Segler, Frank and Dolores Monahan, father-in-law, Chester Tibbits, mother-in-law, Eileen McHenry, and cherished friend, Wolfgang Luka.

The arrangements are being handled by Freck Funeral Chapel. A memorial will be planned in Orange County with a date and location being announced at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association to support research and care. There is a memorial fund in Bruce’s honor: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=970983

Written in honor of our grandfather. We love you and we miss you. - Troy and Cooper Miller