Bruce Capin Death, Obituary –Bruce Capin, a well-respected fencing referee who also served as the head coach of the University of Fencing Club for more than twenty years prior to his passing on November 28, 2022, had served in both of those capacities for the majority of their lives. He was 60. When Capin was in charge of the fencing program at the University of Florida, where he was the head coach for a combined total of 22 seasons, he was able to assist an innumerable number of young athletes in furthering their careers as fencers. Before accepting the position of head coach for the Florida Gators, Capin was a member of the coaching staffs at both New Mexico State University and California State University, Long Beach. In contrast to other fencing coaches, Capin was successful as a trainer for all three types of fencing weapons. This is in contrast to other fencing coaches, who focus solely on one type of weapon.
The number of fencers whose lives he altered would fill volumes, which is an accomplishment that is made even more remarkable by the fact that the majority of the student-athletes he coached at the University of Florida were first-time fencers when they picked up a blade for the first time. The number of fencers whose lives he altered would fill volumes. The number of fencers whose lives he altered would fill books if the list were written down. “few college club coaches could take someone who had never fenced before and turn them into viable fencers in such a short amount of time like Bruce could,” Damien Lehfeldt, an epee coach, referee, and the founder of The Fencing Coach blog, recalled. “few college club coaches could take someone who had never fenced before and turn them into viable fencers in such a short amount of time.”
The majority of the student-athletes that Capin coached to more than 50 medals at the North American Cup began their fencing careers as freshmen in college. These athletes went on to achieve success in the sport. The accomplishments of Capin’s student-athletes are largely responsible for his accomplishments as a coach. Lela Myers, who competed in saber fencing at the University of Florida, has a fond memory of Capin as an individual who was “”for anyone who required it, full of wisdom and support,” she said.
His passing is a loss not only for the Florida Fencing Club but also for the sport of fencing as a whole as well as the entire world “Myers also adds. “His memory will be preserved thanks to the game that he cherished throughout his life.”
