Bruce A. Elmore, Jr.

Bruce A. Elmore, Jr., 72, of Asheville, North Carolina, died while in hospice care following complications from a bone marrow transplant. A third-generation attorney, dedicated civil liberties advocate, and lifelong Tar Heel, Bruce spent his life fighting for fairness, justice, and the underdog—both in the courtroom and beyond. Born in Asheville on November 1, 1952, Bruce was the son of the late Bruce A. Elmore, Sr. and Sadie June Love, and the stepson of the late Ann Rankin Elmore. He graduated from Asheville High School and went on to earn both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A. 1974, J.D. 1976). Bruce knew from a young age that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and uncle. He watched his first jury trial at age 10 and began working in his father’s law office at 14. After law school, he returned to Asheville and practiced law alongside his father for many years. Over the course of a 48-year legal career, Bruce was known for his skill, tenacity, and unshakable sense of justice. He was selected for Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys in North Carolina in the fields of personal injury and medical malpractice and was named to North Carolina Super Lawyers in 2012. Bruce was also deeply committed to civil liberties. He served on the board of directors of the ACLU of Western North Carolina for over two decades, and on the state board for 15 years, including multiple terms as president and vice president. In 2024, he was honored with the Evan Mahaney Champion of Civil Liberties Award for his lifelong advocacy. He also served as a volunteer litigator before the North Carolina Supreme Court and frequently represented clients pro bono. Outside the courtroom, Bruce was an avid motorcyclist and adventurer. In 2001, he and his son Scott rode cross-country from Asheville to the Canadian Rockies and down the West Coast to Big Sur. In 2023, he took the ride of a lifetime from Asheville to the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska- solo! He was also a devoted UNC fan who held season tickets for both Tar Heel football and basketball and rarely missed a game. Bruce valued connection and community, and maintained many deep, decades-long friendships, including some that began as early as grade school. He will be remembered for his fierce loyalty, his sharp mind, his humor, and his unwavering belief in standing up for what’s right. He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Anne Healy; his son, Scott Elmore; his daughter, Becky Elmore, and son-in-law Matt Dinsmore; his stepson, Paul Peffer, and Paul’s wife, Marisa Croce; his grandchildren, Jackson Elmore and Magnolia Dinsmore; his sister, Anne Crofts; his stepsisters, Ruth Cosgrove and Ann Sprinkle; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (https://www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/en/giving#Donate) in honor of Bruce’s lifelong commitment to justice and civil liberties. A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 9, 2025, in the Chapel of Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC.

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Bruce A. Elmore, Jr.

November 1, 1952 - July 24, 2025