Deceased Classmate: Bruce P. Sheekey Date Deceased: Nov-2-2015 Age at Death: 70 Cause of Death: Cancer City: Melbourne State: FL Survived By: Wife, Audrey Sheekey
Couple's 'dream' vehicle will be raffled off for the Humane Society
Bruce and Audrey Sheekey
Audrey and Bruce Sheekey hung on to their dream car for 23 years. The Melbourne couple bought the 1992 Pearl White Nissan 300 ZX days before Hurricane Andrew. Living in the Keys then, they evacuated to Miami in their brand-new ride days after buying it. “We kind of feel like it was a blessed car, and we kept it all these years,” Sheekey said. “It was kind of like our weekend car. We didn’t drive it a lot.” But Bruce was diagnosed with terminal cancer in July. As the couple started making unfathomable plans, Audrey asked her husband of 31 years: “What do you want me to do with the ‘Z?’ ” Bruce told her to donate it to the Central Brevard Humane Society, where they'd adopted their Chihuahua, Hotchi, from in 2013. And Bruce wanted the car they enjoyed to do the same for someone else – while helping Brevard’s homeless pets. Bruce died Nov. 2. Audrey honored his wishes and gave it to the nonprofit. Bruce and Audrey Sheekey, with their dog, Hotchi, have lived in Brevard since 2005. The Z is being raffled off at noon Dec. 31 at the Humane Society’s Adoption Center in Cocoa. The car, which Sheekey said was definitely “babied” and kept in a garage, is a 5-speed standard, 2-door coupe with 100,000 miles on it. The vehicle is offered as-is with no warranty. Tickets – there are 1,000 available – are $25 each. They can be purchased at the Humane Society’s clinics and thrift shops across Brevard, where the car will be on display at various times. You can also buy a ticket at community events and at brevardhumanesociety.com. Executive Director Theresa Clifton said cars are donated here and there – they’ve even been gifted an extra-long Bluebird School bus that has been doubling as storage for the past few years. But being able to raffle something off – with the hopes of bringing in $25,000 to the cause – is a bonus. “We get cars donated to us on occasion but never one as beautiful and well-kept as this classic!” Clifton said via email. “Most are in very used condition with high miles on them. We usually drive them to move animals to different functions until someone donates another one that is a little better and we trade up and sell the old one for scrap.” Sheekey just wanted to do right by her husband and the nonprofit that matched them up with their beloved pet. “I’m just honoring his wishes to donate the car,” Sheekey said, “and have it help someone other than someone that just wanted a car.”
Sorry to hear about Bruce, condolences to his wife and family. That was certainly a nice gesture with the car, it speaks well of the type of person he was.
I had the opportunity to "reconnect" with Bruce when Laurie and I found that he and Audrey were living in Tavernier, just north of us. They were both working with Regan Insurance Agency. Needless to say, they soon represented us for both our home and our business. They were the last two people in that industry who knew how to provide personal service. When's the last time YOUR agent told you that you were over insured?
Beyond business, we became friends (again). Bruce and Audrey were perfectly matched. Both were always smiling, always funny, and always caring. We feel blessed to have had Bruce (and Audrey) in our lives, and we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing.
We lost touch when they moved up the coast. I regret that the busyness of our lives only serves to prevent us from preserving the relationships that give life its meaning.
The story about the car doesn't surprise me in the least. I remember when he bought it and I know how much it meant to him. It only makes sense, knowing Bruce, that it would end up serving to make others happy. Bruce, Audrey, Laurie, and I all would agree that our best friends have four legs.
I urge all HHS grads to join Laurie and me in buying tickets for Bruce's car. It's a bitchin' machine!
I can still see Bruce sinking a jump shot on the HHS basketball court. I also shared a couple of classes with him. After reading about his adult life on this site, I can see that he never changed from the kind and sweet young man that I remember. RIP, Bruce,
Vince "Vinny" Rusinak
From "Florida Today" December 5, 2015
Couple's 'dream' vehicle will be raffled off for the Humane Society
Bruce and Audrey Sheekey
Audrey and Bruce Sheekey hung on to their dream car for 23 years. The Melbourne couple bought the 1992 Pearl White Nissan 300 ZX days before Hurricane Andrew. Living in the Keys then, they evacuated to Miami in their brand-new ride days after buying it. “We kind of feel like it was a blessed car, and we kept it all these years,” Sheekey said. “It was kind of like our weekend car. We didn’t drive it a lot.” But Bruce was diagnosed with terminal cancer in July. As the couple started making unfathomable plans, Audrey asked her husband of 31 years: “What do you want me to do with the ‘Z?’ ” Bruce told her to donate it to the Central Brevard Humane Society, where they'd adopted their Chihuahua, Hotchi, from in 2013. And Bruce wanted the car they enjoyed to do the same for someone else – while helping Brevard’s homeless pets. Bruce died Nov. 2. Audrey honored his wishes and gave it to the nonprofit. Bruce and Audrey Sheekey, with their dog, Hotchi, have lived in Brevard since 2005. The Z is being raffled off at noon Dec. 31 at the Humane Society’s Adoption Center in Cocoa. The car, which Sheekey said was definitely “babied” and kept in a garage, is a 5-speed standard, 2-door coupe with 100,000 miles on it. The vehicle is offered as-is with no warranty. Tickets – there are 1,000 available – are $25 each. They can be purchased at the Humane Society’s clinics and thrift shops across Brevard, where the car will be on display at various times. You can also buy a ticket at community events and at brevardhumanesociety.com. Executive Director Theresa Clifton said cars are donated here and there – they’ve even been gifted an extra-long Bluebird School bus that has been doubling as storage for the past few years. But being able to raffle something off – with the hopes of bringing in $25,000 to the cause – is a bonus. “We get cars donated to us on occasion but never one as beautiful and well-kept as this classic!” Clifton said via email. “Most are in very used condition with high miles on them. We usually drive them to move animals to different functions until someone donates another one that is a little better and we trade up and sell the old one for scrap.” Sheekey just wanted to do right by her husband and the nonprofit that matched them up with their beloved pet. “I’m just honoring his wishes to donate the car,” Sheekey said, “and have it help someone other than someone that just wanted a car.”
Tom Fitzpatrick
Sorry to hear about Bruce, condolences to his wife and family. That was certainly a nice gesture with the car, it speaks well of the type of person he was.
Stephen "Rocky" Colavito
i also agree that it was a wonderful gesture and i wish his family the best and i am very sorry for their loss.
Dick Hagood
I had the opportunity to "reconnect" with Bruce when Laurie and I found that he and Audrey were living in Tavernier, just north of us. They were both working with Regan Insurance Agency. Needless to say, they soon represented us for both our home and our business. They were the last two people in that industry who knew how to provide personal service. When's the last time YOUR agent told you that you were over insured?
Beyond business, we became friends (again). Bruce and Audrey were perfectly matched. Both were always smiling, always funny, and always caring. We feel blessed to have had Bruce (and Audrey) in our lives, and we are deeply saddened to hear of his passing.
We lost touch when they moved up the coast. I regret that the busyness of our lives only serves to prevent us from preserving the relationships that give life its meaning.
The story about the car doesn't surprise me in the least. I remember when he bought it and I know how much it meant to him. It only makes sense, knowing Bruce, that it would end up serving to make others happy. Bruce, Audrey, Laurie, and I all would agree that our best friends have four legs.
I urge all HHS grads to join Laurie and me in buying tickets for Bruce's car. It's a bitchin' machine!
Rest in peace good friend.
Jack Taubin
I didn't know Bruce, but I certainly knew who he was. A great sportsman and all around good T-Bred.
Linda Tuttle (Lantz)
I can still see Bruce sinking a jump shot on the HHS basketball court. I also shared a couple of classes with him. After reading about his adult life on this site, I can see that he never changed from the kind and sweet young man that I remember. RIP, Bruce,