The Rev. Bruce A. Freeman – who retired in October as rector of St. Matthew’s, Pacific Palisades, since 2015 – died April 13 of a stroke after undergoing cancer treatment. He was 66 and had relocated to Washington state.
Survivors include Dana Freeman, his wife of 42 years, and their children, Carl (Virginia); Nat (Leah); and Audrey (Clinton) Larson; and five grandchildren, Malakai, Cassian, and Josephine Freeman; and Avery and Freya Larson.
“During Bruce’s visionary tenure at St. Matthew’s, he provided the parish with captivating spiritual insight, compelled the community to engage in ministries to the fullest, and invigorated all to live life in the love of God,” a parish announcement noted. “And he laughed a lot.”
Freeman guided St. Matthew’s through the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire which broke out Jan. 7 and destroyed the rectory in which he and his spouse resided. He continued to provide pastoral care through the community’s and initial months of recovery.
Throughout his ministry at St. Matthew’s, Freeman was highly regarded for his leadership of the congregation, collaborating with its affiliated parish school, and encouraging generous support of local community service ministries.
Freeman previously was rector, from 2003-2015 of Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati, and rector of Church of the Epiphany, San Carlos, Calif., from 1994 to 2003. While serving in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, also was rector of St. John’s, Athol, from 1989 to 2004 after assisting at St. Christopher’s, St. Paul, Minnesota for two years after his ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Robert M. Anderson.;
He held a master of divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College.
Freeman’s father, William Freeman, also was an Episcopal priest; his ministries included serving Native American congregations and communities.