 Bruce died suddenly Dec. 14, 2016.
Winston-Salem, the Yadkin Valley and North Carolina have lost a great advocate with the passing of Bruce Heye, known to all as The Wine Guy. In his 35 years in Winston-Salem he hosted wine tastings, taught wine appreciation classes at Salem College, wrote articles on wine for several local publications, appeared on local radio and television, all while sharing his love of good food and wine with friends and family.
Wine was his second career, which he embraced after a 25-year career in finance… and equipment leasing. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where--fittingly considering his 6’-6” height –he played on the basketball team, before serving two years in the U.S. Army, one year of which was in Germany. During his time in Europe, Bruce developed his knowledge of wine and love of travel. Returning to the states he started his career in finance and earned his MBA from Seton Hall University while working in New York City.
In 1973 the Bank of Virginia transferred him to their main office in Richmond, VA where he and his family resided until 1981 when Wachovia Bank recruited him to establish their equipment leasing subsidiary in Winston-Salem. Despite being nervous about moving to such a small city, became delighted with the music and opera scene in Winston-Salem. He ran successful fundraisers for several organizations before being asked to join Piedmont Opera Theatre’s Board of Directors. During his seven years of service he drafted the company’s long-range plan, started an annual winetasting fundraiser, staffed the office phone for ticket sales, carried boxes and anything else that needed doing. The homemade brownies he prepared for cast suppers became a cast favorite. He continued his season subscriptions to both the opera and the Winston-Salem Symphony until his death.
Bruce also loved to travel, especially to wine-growing regions, with many trips to France, Italy, Portugal, Germany and England. In the United States, he was particularly fond of the Willamette Valley in Oregon although he had visited wine areas of California as well. He was particularly proud of North Carolina’s growing wine industry and was one of the first members of the nascent North Carolina Winegrowers’ Association, who in 2014 recognized his indefatigable promotion of North Carolina wines by naming him as the Member of the Year.
Bruce is survived by his life partner of 20 years, Judi Lawson Wallace; son Allan Heye (Sian) of London, England; and son Douglas of Washington, DC; sister Louanne Christie of Little Silver, NJ; two grandchildren, Cecily and Alexander of London, England.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 19 at 3:30 at Hayworth Miller Funeral Home in Lewisville with visitation afterwards. At Bruce’s request: in lieu of flowers, he asks everyone to buy a good bottle of wine and enjoy it in his memory. Read More »
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Ken Carpenter
I saw Bruce yesterday as we refueled our vehicles at a gas station in Lewisville,and I reminded him of our lunch appointment for this Friday. I believe I will go to the restaurant anyway, order a glass of wine, and propose a toast to my former manager and long-time friend. I will miss Bruce. Besides being a man that most everyone looked up to (pun intended; he was around 6' 8" tall), he took a chance and hired me as a leasing new business officer when I had no prior experience in that area of finance. It served us both well and he was an excellent mentor as I grew in the position. He always had an anecdote or a humorous story to tell from his past as conversations would invariably turn up opportunities to regale others with his sharp wit. When my first child was born prematurely, I asked Bruce if he might consider letting me take a month off without pay to commence when my wife had to return to work. In 1990, there was no family medical leave law that allowed for such a thing but Bruce worked out the details with Human Resources and helped make it happen. It was one of the best months of my life and, Bruce later told me, was the first request of its kind to be granted by Wachovia. Just one more reason I loved Wachovia and so much appreciate all the people like Bruce that I encountered along the way at that venerable institution. Rest in peace, Bruce. You made a difference in my life and the lives of others that will never be forgotten.