Author: Alana Saltz
Environmental Health and Safety Manager Bruce Steele ’71 works with Oxy to keep our campus safe. He is a nature enthusiast and passionate about environmental issues. However, what many people may not know about Steele is that among a myriad of activities, he is a beekeeper.
Steele plays an important role on Oxy’s campus. He is part of the Facilities Management team and is responsible for numerous tasks, including fire safety, hazardous waste, ergonomics, inspections, safety training, accident investigation and wasp and bee problems on campus.
He is also the Co-Chair of the Campus Safety Committee and works on disaster preparedness and emergency response. However, he couldn’t do all of this on his own. “There are so many employees who work to keep Oxy looking and functioning the way it does,” Steele said. “It is a dedicated team. I like the thought that we all contribute something that helps provide Oxy students with the opportunity to blossom to their full potential in a relatively safe and caring environment. There is a lot of positive energy.”
Throughout the year, Steele works with bees to produce honey, which is a very time-consuming endeavor. “I have chosen to work with honeybees that work 24/7,” Steele said. “Keeping up with these insects and their needs is challenging, especially in a good honey year like this one has been.”
With the help of Facilities Project Manager John Mortl, Steele moves beehives for pollination to almond orchards in February. In April, he brings bees to Chemistry Professor Don Deardorff and his brothers’ avocado orchards in Temecula. “I also get a chance to make honey from these crops as well as from our local Chaparral plants,” Steele said.
The number of beehives that Steele tends to is astonishing. “He single-handedly maintains approximately 170 hives at five foothill locations,” Mortl said in an e-mail interview. “The honey he harvests from the various locations and times of year include sage, wildflower, almond, avocado, orange, premium (blend) and others.”
With the help of his bees, Steele has managed to make a buzz around Hollywood as well. He and his bees have been used in commercial and film projects, including a scene in Matthew Barney’s Cremaster 2 (1999).Last summer, Steele was mentioned in the Los Angeles Times. The article, “Bright Winged Giants,” written by Lili Singer, was about the increase in giant swallowtail butterflies residing in the L.A. basin.
Steele accidentally discovered giant swallowtail butterfly larvae and eggs on the rue plants in his yard. “The larvae look like bird poop and can use this to their survival advantage,” he said. Most predators will stray away from eating the larvae if they appear to be bird poop.
“They used to be rare,” Steele said of giant swallowtails. “They are a large butterfly that is brown and yellow on the upper surface of the wings… shaped like [an] open mouth smile. The underside of the wings is mostly lighter yellow with some blue and orange patterned accent colors. Watching them fly can be hypnotic.”
Steele appreciated the article in the Times because it gave people a new awareness of something in nature that they otherwise may not have noticed. “I am always pleased when an article comes out that might help people living in the city take time to observe and recognize the wildlife around them,” he said.
Director of Campus Safety and Campus Safety Committee co-chair Holly Nieto enjoys working with Steele. “[He] is a valued colleague; we strategize, plan, collude, and sometimes just carp together… He’s also a lot of fun, is a dedicated punster and has a wicked sense of humor,” Nieto said.
Many have remarked on Steele’s great sense of humor. “[Steele is] one of a good kind,” Mortl said. “Equal parts engaged, sharp, pun-loving, encyclopedic and passionate.”
Students appreciate the work that Steele does to improve the campus. “Not only does he really care about his job and making sure that Oxy is safe as it can be, he also seems to truly enjoy doing what he does, and it resonates with people around him,” Don Rowe (sophomore) said.
Steele wants to see a few changes on Oxy’s campus and within our community. “I’d like to see all bike riders wearing helmets,” he said. “Everyone should know there is no skateboarding on campus, but if you do so elsewhere, wear a helmet. Protect your intellectual investment!”
He would also like to discontinue the use of the key card system on campus. Key card systems require a lot of extra energy just to open our doors, Steele said. “Brass keys and coins are also a lot closer to the principles of sustainability,” he added.
A fun idea that Steele suggests is that we put beehives up on Fiji Hill. That way, Oxy can have a “Honey Day” in the quad every fall.
In his free time, Steele participates in many nature-related activities. “I enjoy hiking, and combine that with nature photography,” he said. “Lately, I mostly shoot [videos] of wildlife… This year we had a pair of Cooper’s hawks nest in an oak tree in our yard. It was fun to watch and listen as they successfully raised two young.” Just a couple of weeks ago, Steele also shot footage of a giant swallowtail laying an egg on a rue plant.
Steele said he is interested in other hobbies, but unfortunately maintains too busy of a schedule to pursue them. “If I had more time I’d play guitar [and] possibly piano, although it would be better to get an electronic keyboard with headphones to spare people within hearing distance.”
Because of his time constraints, Steele spends time exploring the Internet to keep up with what’s going on around him. “I must admit it is easier to log onto YouTube and watch what some other people on this planet are up to. There is some fun stuff out there,” he said.
Something that Steele feels strongly about is the importance of taking time to enjoy nature. “One day this week, I had an opportunity to get to work early. At sunrise, there was a wonderful thunderstorm cell that moved northeast along the foothills. While driving, I spotted a double rainbow and pulled over to take it in.”Little moments like these have a big effect on Steele’s life. “I cannot express how different my life would be without having stopped for five minutes to make those observations,” he said. “For me, a memory like this is like a recharging, and it really helps me to deal with the challenges of the week ahead. You can be locked into a path in life, but just make sure you take time to look at the rainbows.”
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