Longtime Tulsa educator and political activist Bruce Niemi died at the age of 76 on Dec. 1 following a brief illness.
As news of Niemi’s passing spread via social media, a flurry of online tributes ensued, including a heartfelt message from Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols.
“Today, Tulsa mourns the loss of Bruce Niemi, a dedicated public servant and an incredible human being,” Nichols posted on Facebook. “Bruce devoted his life to strengthening communities through service from his most recent work on the MTTA Board of Trustees to decades spent teaching, advising, governing, and lifting up institutions across Tulsa and our state.”
Niemi was a long-serving member of the Coalition for the American Dream (ADC), a local nonprofit group that advocates for immigrants and the power of the vote. He would often work with the group’s president, Blanca Zavala, registering new voters and educating legislators about the value of Oklahoma’s immigrant population.
“Bruce was an incredible person who worked tirelessly to make the world a better place. He always stood up for good causes, and he never waited for others to step in — he jumped in and worked right alongside everyone,” Zavala said. “The immigrant community is truly grateful for all his years of dedication to those who needed it most. ¡Bruce, nos vemos al otro lado!”
Niemi served as city manager of Grove, Oklahoma, in the 1980s and as a representative in the Oklahoma Legislature for House District 78 from 1990 to 1992. More recently, he was a member of the Tulsa County Election Board and served as Chairman of the Tulsa County Democratic Party, where he cheerfully shared his experience with the party’s younger generation.
He gained notoriety in the legislature for being an early advocate of banning corporal punishment in public schools and as a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
Niemi was also a well-loved educator, having taught history and government at Tulsa Community College for many years, and served as an adjunct lecturer at Oklahoma State University.
Niemi is survived by his wife, Theresa Dreiling, and his two daughters, Meredith and Julie Niemi.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at Trinity Episcopal Church, where Niemi was an active member.
“Tulsa is better for his service,” Nichols wrote, expressing a sentiment shared by many of Niemi’s friends and colleagues, “and his impact will continue to be felt across the agencies and communities he helped strengthen.”
This article was originally published by La Semana, a partner of the Tulsa Flyer. You can see the original story here. Lea este artículo en español aquí.