Bruce William Gaudet, 56, also known as the "Cigar Guy," the BEST father, grandfather, brother, uncle, son died tragically Thursday, Jan. 26, in Phoenix, where he had been living the past seven months. Bruce was born in Meriden, Conn. The son of a career military officer, his family moved 12 times in the 23 years his father served. The middle son of three children, he went to schools in Minden and Bossier City, La., Mar Vista, Calif., Hanau, Germany, Olathe, Kan., Monmouth, N.J., and finally Santa Monica, Calif. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1971. While in high school, he played for the soccer team and would often be seen proudly wearing his letterman's jacket. He went on to earn an associate arts degree from Santa Monica College and later attended California State University at Northridge to pursue his degree in accounting. In 1978, he married Kellie Junkins in Santa Monica, a union which produced his greatest accomplishments, his three daughters and granddaughter. His best days were spent watching his girls dance performances while shouting out their names, coaching their soccer games, park outings, traveling abroad and being a kid alongside his own at Disneyland. He also loved the ocean and took pride in his sailboat and the work he did on his homes. However, Bruce was also a man of great enthusiasms and didn't always know the meaning of moderation, causing him to experience some hardships in life. With the support of his friend Bill W, he pulled himself out of a dark place and rebuilt his life, using that same enthusiasm toward good. During the process of rebuilding his own life, he helped scores of others. He managed a church funded half-way house for several years, many of the residents credit Bruce with saving their lives. With his gregarious and outgoing personality, Bruce worked mainly in sales during his lifetime for such companies as Frito-Lay, Roadway and Miller Brewing. He eventually fulfilled his entrepreneurial appetite to own and operate his own cigar shop, Smokers Paradise in Las Vegas. Bruce then went to work for a series of tobacco establishments including the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Ideal Tobacco and Nat Sherman. Most recently, he was the Premium Sales Manager for General Cigar covering Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. His vibrant personality and love for the business was infectious, he helped many cigar enthusiast and shop owners in countless ways to become more knowledgeable about the industry. It was not unusual for Bruce to drive from Albuquerque, N.M. to southern Arizona, in a day, then up to Las Vegas the next day. But, he always made it back in time for his daughter's activities. It was his role as father that everyone admired. Despite his divorce, he was always welcome at his former in-laws for holiday events with his girls and ex-wife. At one time weighing over 275 pounds, Bruce had, in the past 18 months shed at least 60 pounds through diet and strenuous exercise. He was proud of the fact that he just recently could bench press 410 pounds. Bruce very much enjoyed the outdoors - sailing, golf, body surfing, snowboarding, hiking and off-roading were all joys of his. In his younger years as an avid skater and beach goer, he liked to "can jump" on the boardwalk in Venice Beach, Calif. and often recalled his record of seven trash cans. A dedicated son, Bruce died just one year and a day after putting his father CW3 William Gaudet (USA-ret) to rest and five months after his mother, Bettina Gaudet passed away. Proud of his mother's German nationality, he wore a special "Germany" shirt to her memorial while his girls all wore dirndls. He is survived by his daughters, Jessica, Heidi and Melissa; granddaughter, Natalee; brother, Dirk (Paula) of Santa Monica; sister, Rebecca Motlagh (Habib) of Coronado, Calif.; former wife, Kellie; mother-in-law, Sylvia Junkins; nephews, Dante, Sean and Jamal; and niece, Mimi. Memorial services will be held Feb. 12, at 2 p.m. at the College Park Baptist Church, 2101 E. Owens Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89030, a church that was very meaningful in Bruce's life. His remains will be interred Monday, Feb. 13, at Davis Memorial Park, 6200 S. Eastern Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Bruce Gaudet to College Park Baptist Church at the address above. As Bruce would often say: "Another Day in Paradise."

Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal from February 4 to February 5, 2012

Murder victim