The St. Bartholomew Window is located on the Gospel side aisle at St. Mark’s.
The window was given in memory of Major Bruce Robertson, USAF, by his wife Amy, and his children, Bruce, Susan and Katherine.
The St. Bartholomew window was designed by Cummings Glass Studio, San Francisco and cost $1,585.55. It is 27″ x 92″
The window was installed in 1968 and dedicated in 1969.
The Saint Bartholomew window was given in memory of Bruce Robertson, a pilot and military veteran. The Robertson family attended St. Mark’s during the mid-1960’s.
Bruce was born June 30, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Forbes, was a stockbroker, or an insurance agent, or a politician depending on what record you look at. The youngest of four children, Bruce was 14 years younger than his next oldest sibling and so was definitely the baby of the family (US Census Records).
His father was much older and died when Bruce was just 11. It was 1935, right in the middle of the depression, and surely a difficult time for the family. After his father’s death, Bruce continued to live in Detroit and attended school there, but his father was gone and he no longer lived with his mother. By 1940, Bruce’s mother, Ethyl, was living in the Ypsalanti State Hospital for the insane. Bruce, 15, lived with his married sister in Detroit (US Census Records)
At some time in the early 1940’s, Bruce joined the Air Force. According to a newspaper article, he served for three years in the United States Air Force during World War II. Since the war ended in 1945, Bruce probably entered the service in 1942 when he turned 18. Or he lied about his age and entered earlier! After the war, he went to college at Michigan State and was a member of Delta Chi fraternity. In 1949, he reenlisted in the Air Force. He continued to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War (Sacramento Bee).
Around 1952, Bruce met Amy Jane Lamb. Amy was employed at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA where Bruce was stationed. Bruce and Amy were married on December 28th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento, CA (The Selma Enterprise).
Bruce and Amy’s first child was born in El Paso, Texas where Bruce was stationed until at least 1954. In 1957 they were living in Puerto Rico. Like most military families, they moved from place to place (US Census Records).
By 1967, Bruce and Amy were living in Palo Alto. Bruce was a pilot for Slick Airways, a cargo airline. At one point the largest cargo airline in the United States, the company also flew charter flights for the military. When the company got into financial trouble, it was shut down in July of 1966 (Wikipedia).
Slick owned a fleet of Lockheed Super Constellation airliners that were used to fly military freight overseas. When Slick went out of business, it was acquired by Airlift International which flew out of San Francisco International Airport. Bruce continued to fly for Airlift International which contracted with the military for cargo flights.
On June 22, 1967, Bruce was the Navigator on a Lockheed Super Constellation that was flying out of Saigon Airport in Vietnam. At 9 pm, the Super Constellation collided mid-air with an Air Force F4D Phantom Jet. Everyone on board the cargo plane, including Bruce Robertson, was killed (St. Joseph Gazette).
St. Mark’s records show Bruce Robertson, age 42, living at 425 Grant Avenue, #7, Palo Alto, CA, died on June 22, 1967 in an airplane accident in Vietnam. Bruce was buried July 5, 1967 at Arlington National Cemetery (St. Mark’s Archives)
Amy and the children gave the window in memory of Bruce in 1967. Shortly afterward, they moved to Hawaii. We have not, unfortunately, been able to find a picture of Major Bruce Robertson. Please send us one if you read this so we can include it in this memorial.
