Bruce S. Mencher, 86, passed away peacefully in his home on February 17th, 2022 in Washington, DC. His sons and their wives were with him as he passed.

A proud native Washingtonian, Bruce was born May 21, 1935, at the original Sibley Hospital and lived his entire life in the District of Columbia, attending Bancroft Elementary, Alice Deal Junior High, and Woodrow Wilson High School. He received both his B.A. and his J.D. at George Washington University.

Bruce served as a Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for four decades, retiring in 2015. Prior to being appointed to the Superior Court bench by President Gerald Ford in 1975, he served in private practice with the Wilkes Artis law firm, with the U.S. Agency for International Development, and as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia from 1961-1967. He began his career in the USDA General Counsel's office.

In 1987, Bruce worked to create Adoption Day, the District of Columbia Superior Court's annual celebration recognizing the families who adopt children or become foster parents. The event, now sponsored by the Superior Court judges and the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency, is in its 35th year and was an inspiration for National Adoption Day.

A caring father and grandfather, Bruce was an ardent supporter of the work of his sons, Sean and Marc. Sean Mencher is an award-winning guitarist and Marc Mencher heads an international entertainment management and booking agency.

An accomplished pianist and composer in his own right, Bruce kept two grand pianos in the living room of his Northwest DC home so that he could enjoy playing with visiting pianists. Musical sessions ranged from classical to Gershwin to jazz. He was an active member of the Chopin Foundation, and in the past year, Mencher had completed composing what he hoped would become the Washington Nationals' official fight song. Other than his family, he was most proud of his accomplishments on the piano bench.

"He was a true renaissance man," said Bob Gellman, Bruce's friend of 72 years.

He was predeceased by his loving wife Janet Mencher in 2006. In addition to his sons from an earlier marriage, Sean and Marc, Bruce is survived by his daughters in law Betina (Sean), Anna Maria (Marc), and his grandchildren, Ruby, Hannah, Daniel, and Miles (Donatilla). Graveside services will be held privately. Due to concerns of Covid, the family will not be receiving visitors. The family is planning a memorial service to be scheduled on a forthcoming date in May 2022. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.chopin.org.