REGINALD BRUCE STEWART

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

REGINALD BRUCE STEWART Bruce was born on May 30, 1928 in Moose Jaw, SK to Edith Leota Scott and Ira Reginald Stewart. Orphaned at 14 months, he was raised by loving grandparents and aunts and uncles, and was very fond of his many cousins. He grew up in Hartney, Neepawa, Baldur and Winnipeg, MB, where his grandfather was a Presbyterian and later United Church Minister. After high school he taught for a year at Hilton, MB, and then put himself through the University of Manitoba on scholarship, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1950. He married Marion Grace McIntyre the same year and they moved to Flin Flon, where they built a home, enjoyed the outdoors, and made many good friends. Bruce worked as a chemist for Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting until 1955, when he and Marion moved to Noranda, QC. Their son David Bruce was born later that year. Bruce worked as Assistant Chief Chemist for Noranda Mines until joining Atomic Energy of Canada in 1962, and moving to Deep River, Ontario. The family moved to Pinawa, MB, in August of 1963 to help start up the community and the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment. Bruce enjoyed a long and productive career as a research chemist, retiring in 1985 as Head of the Analytical Sciences Branch and a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada. A highlight of his career was supervising analysis of debris from the Russian Satellite Cosmos 954 that fell to earth over northern Canada in 1978. He was very proud of the people in his branch, and of their work. Bruce was a founding member of the Pinawa Christian Fellowship, coached kids hockey for many years, enjoyed cross-country and downhill skiing, canoeing, sailing, hockey, travel, woodworking, music, the Audubon Christmas bird count, and his family and friends. He was blessed by a loving marriage to his devoted friend and soul mate, Marion, that lasted over 55 years, and by his family. He instilled a love of science, nature and learning in his son Bruce, and took great pleasure in his northern research. He was delighted when Bruce married Cecile Louise Barsalou and thrilled by the arrival of his granddaughters Heather Anne and Ceilidh Erin. In his final days of a long and courageous struggle with progressive supranuclear palsy, their hugs, smiles and music brought him joy. Bruce died peacefully on March 30, 2006 at the Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home with Marion at his side. He will be missed. Bruce was, and his family are, truly grateful for the kind and compassionate care he received from the Home Care, Pinawa Hospital, and Lac du Bonnet Personal Care Home staff and for the kindness of friends and family. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 3 at Gilbert School in Pinawa. SOBERING FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM, Beausejour 268-3510 or Mb. Toll free 1-877-776-2220

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 01, 2006