TEMPLE — Bruce Herman of Peterborough, Jaffrey, Marlborough and most recently of Temple, passed away on June 10, 2010, after battling cancer. He was a few days shy of his 79th birthday. At the time of his death he was cared for by close friends and by hospice.

Herman was the director of the Actors Theatre Workshop in New York City for eight years, and also a director of many productions in Greenwich Village and off-Broadway. As an actor, he appeared in a large repertoire of off-Broadway productions and portrayed Mark Anthony in a Shakespeare in the Park production of “Julius Caesar.” He was the author of two plays that were produced off-Broadway, “The Catalyst” and “The Resurrection.” He had written a large body of work ranging from poetry to short stories to a novel.

A renaissance man, Bruce also worked as an environmental planner, furniture designer, interior designer and as a commercial videographer for clients including Corning Glass Works. He was a poet and sculptor and crafted one-of-a-kind jewelry and collectable walking sticks entirely by hand.

He traveled the world while in the Navy, serving in the Korean War as a Seal, and was a prisoner of war.

Passions in his life included Bach, good jazz, great books, art in and on all mediums, well-prepared food, working out in the gym, swimming and smoking his pipes.

He was a practicing Zen Buddhist. Social justice and racial equality were important to him.

Bruce is survived by a son, David Herman, a chiropractor, of Arizona; a daughter, Elizabeth Herman, a fashion designer, of Pennsylvania; a grandson and several stepchildren.

There will be a quiet gathering of friends on June 22 at 6 p.m. at Papagallo’s in Swanzey to celebrate Bruce Herman’s life.

In memory of Bruce, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.

To share a memory of Bruce or to send a condolence to his family and friends, please visit his online memorial at www.cournoyerfh.com

The Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Jaffrey is assisting with arrangements.