Bruce A. Reynolds

NORTH CANAAN — Bruce A. Reynolds, 67, a patent examiner and attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, died July 26, 2007, of cancer at his home in Arlington, Va. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lucia Jean Reynolds.

Mr. Reynolds attended Housatonic Valley Regional High School and was a resident of Kent. He had homes in Arlington and North Canaan.

Mr. Reynolds was born in Greenwich, Conn.  After service in the U.S. Marine Corps, including deployment to Lebanon in 1958, he entered the University of Connecticut in 1960 and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1964. He was a consulting engineer with Ebasco Services Inc. in New York City from 1964 to 1968.  In 1968, he moved to Arlington, where he lived until his death.

In 1968, Mr. Reynolds joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C., beginning his career as a patent examiner. In 1972, he received a law degree from Georgetown University and passed the Virginia bar.

During his career at the patent office he was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Automated Patent System.

He was a fellow in the Commerce Department Science and Technology Fellowship Program and a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.  

He was an instructor at the Patent Academy. In 1995, Mr. Reynolds retired from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after 27 years of service.

Mr. Reynolds pursued many interests during his retirement, including docent and volunteer with the music division of the Library of Congress, substitute teacher in Arlington County Schools and volunteer at the Equestrian Enterprises in Great Falls, Va.   

He evolved from docent to part-time staff member of the Library of Congress, where he conducted public and VIP tours of the Jefferson Building, focusing on its history, architecture and mission. This activity became his major focus and the most enjoyable of all his interests until his illness.   

An enthusiastic outdoorsman, Mr. Reynolds traveled frequently between his residence in Arlington and his second home in North Canaan. He enjoyed gardening and was especially proud of his wildflower garden at the house in North Canaan. He was thrilled when told that a tree in the yard in Arlington was the second largest black locust tree in Virginia.  The tree is now in the Virginia Registry of Notable Trees.

Mr. Reynolds was an avid participant of Washington area cultural events.  He  supported national and community theater and musical concerts as well as  public radio and television.  

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, David Bruce Reynolds; a daughter-in-law, Karen Reynolds; and his grandchildren, Jessica and Dustin Reynolds, all of Arlington; five sisters, Lucille Zuck, Frances Jones, Rosemary Nelson, Anne McDermott and Helene Lewis; three brothers-in-law, Charles and Alfred Wells of North Canaan and Richard Wells of Sheffield, Mass.; and many adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A daughter, Elizabeth Jean Reynolds, predeceased her father, as did a brother, Robert Reynolds, and a sister, Margaret Miller.

Services were held in Arlington on July 30.  Internment will be private.