Bruce was born in Columbia, Missouri on August 9, 1953, and died April 29, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents John B. Mitchell and Pauline Mitchell, his son, J.B. Mitchell, and his brother, Kent. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Susan Hinkle Mitchell, his son William Logan Mitchell and his informally adopted son Orhan Mentese of New York City. He is also survived by two brothers Boyd and Mark.
Bruce grew up in a socially conscious family and was drawn to politics at an early age. He was the editor of an underground newspaper at Upper Arlington high school, outside of Columbus, Ohio. He attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio , from 1971 to 1975 and just barely earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies. While attending OU he was a campus activist and organizer protesting the war in Vietnam, advocating for student rights, and founding the Student Workers Union that tried to organize the university’s student employees. He was elected president of the undergraduate student Governing board in 1974. He was briefly suspended as a result of a brief student takeover of the university’s administrative office in 1975.
In 1977, Bruce founded the Athens “A” News (the “A” is for alternative) that over time, evolved into The Athens News. He served as publisher for 38 years before retiring and selling the newspaper in 2014. He was active in many community events including the Athens Clean & Safe Halloween committee and helping promote the Athens Brick Criterion as assistant race director for six years and then race director for another six years.
Bruce and Susan moved to Key West, Florida in 2013 where are they made countless dear friends and joined the Key West Bike Club… If it’s 8:01 AM we’re riding! In 2015, he organized community members to form the Key West Rip-off rapid response team that fought a 5-year campaign against rip off cosmetic shops on Duval St. Their sidewalk protest finally closed the last shop in the spring of 2000.
Bruce was most proud of his wife Susan, the newspaper he founded and attending all 30 Major League Baseball parks with his sons.
Bruce was blessed with an unusually large network of longtime friends who he loved dearly and whom he was generous with.
In recent years he fancied himself a minor philanthropist and with Susan delighted in giving significant funds to a wide range of charitable organizations.
He loved life experiences, traveling, adventure and visited more than 70 countries and continents.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, May 24 at 3pm in the Ridges Auditorium in Athens, Ohio. Please cherish his soul and memory by wearing brightly colored clothing.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to William Weech American Leigon Post 168 PO Box 903 Key West, FL 33041
