BRUCE CAMERON MELROSE

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BRUCE CAMERON MELROSE April 1, 1945 - September 30, 2009 Born in Red Deer, AB, Bruce was raised in Red Deer, Calgary and Medicine Hat AB, Timmins, ON and finally Winnipeg, MB where he stayed to make a home and raise his own family. Along the way, he proved himself to be a focused and determined athlete in his youth, leading to excellence in baseball, track and a Provincial Championship 440 relay in the Winnipeg Arena. These same traits stood him well in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles with whom he served from November 25, 1961 to May 19, 1964, attaining the rank of Corporal. Easily a tweed and leather patch wearing history professor in another life, this life saw Bruce dedicating 30 years to Air Canada in return for which he received numerous commendations for exceptional service and the opportunity to share his love of travel with his family. He traveled extensively throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe, but as a proud member of the Scottish diaspora he returned most frequently to Scotland. However, his most significant trip was a year long sojourn in Australia at the age of 21 where he met Donna Howes, the woman he would bring back to Canada to be his bride. Whether he was Bruce, Dad, Uncle Buck, Grandpa or Dadaji, he was as fiercely proud a father as he was an uncle, as loving a husband as he was a grandfather and the most loyal of friends. He was predeceased by his father Cameron Jackson Melrose and is survived by his mother Edith Marjory Melrose (nee McClellan), wife Donna Beverley Melrose (nee Howes), son Sean Cameron Melrose and his wife Vidushi Mittra Melrose (nee Mittra), daughter Erin Ruth Fagan (nee Melrose) and her husband Sean Patrick Fagan, brother Ross McClellan Melrose and his wife Sherri Melrose (nee Ellas), nephews Derek Terry McClellan Melrose and Garth Cameron Ross Melrose and grandsons Anuman Lochlannach Cameron Mittra Melrose and Conor Jackson Fagan. A renaissance man by any measure, Bruce was, over the course of his life, a writer and raconteur, an oenophile and gourmand, a student of military history and chess, a cross-country skier, recreational marksman, tropical fish breeder and collector of eclectic firearms, military memorabilia and fine wood pipes. In the final months of his illness, Bruce made his way to Powell River, BC and was welcomed into the home of Sean, Vidushi and Anuman. While he was a frequent guest of the Powell River General Hospital's 4th Floor Medical / Surgical Unit, he would spend as many days as possible at home on the oceanfront deck, watching eagles, sailboats and sunsets. Bruce's family would like to thank Dr. Bruce Hobson and the staff of the Powell River General Hospital and Evergreen Extended Care Unit for the compassion accorded him during his stay. He passed peacefully and with dignity thanks in no small part to them. While the family has chosen to have a small private memorial in lieu of a formal service, those wishing to commemorate Bruce may donate to the Powell River General Hospital Foundation, 5000 Joyce Ave., Powell River, BC V8A 5R3 in lieu of flowers and the like.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 10, 2009