(1954-2024)
Bruce passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 3, 2024 at Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his wife Jennifer and his children Pamela (Jordan) and Patrick (Shawna), grandson Lincoln and beloved standard poodle, Jigs.
Bruce Douglas lived large. Born in London, Ontario on November 6, 1954, he grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, the oldest of 4 children born to Bob and Fran Douglas. It was at St. Jerome’s High School where he first excelled in sports, and his passion for music and performance was born. He joined the orchestra under the direction of Mike Bergauer. He played his first ‘gig’ in a cover band at age 14, where he and friend Charlie Bell made sure to polish off all the unfinished drinks in the bar after closing. He spent many years performing with Opus and Opus II, popular bands led by Mike Bergauer in Southwestern Ontario.
Bruce was an accomplished trombone and trumpet player and was the lead singer in his own band, Traditions, with which he toured for several years. Following life on the road as a full-time musician, he moved to Newmarket and had a successful career selling postage meters, eventually retiring as President of Friden Neopost Canada in 1998. While working full-time and raising a family, Bruce earned an undergrad business degree at WLU and an Executive MBA at University of Toronto. Post-retirement, Bruce started a dealership for the company, serving a large area spanning from Richmond Hill to Huntsville.
Bruce loved boating. It was on his boat that he met the young woman who later became his wife of 42 years. Jennifer (aka Jeff, aka Ralph) was working a summer job for the phone company and was his telephone operator when he made a radio call from his boat one evening. A true salesman, he offered to pick her up from the office after her shift in his black Lincoln Continental, and the rest is history!
Together the family went on many skiing and tropical adventures, which created cherished family memories. They shared the love of boating, especially in the Bad River area. Fishing was another great love of Bruce’s, and he did many fishing trips to the west coast and in Mexico. Fishing in Cabo, where they had a second home for many years, was his ‘happy place’. Bruce was accomplished in the martial arts, and earned his 4th degree black belt in karate. Jennifer, Pamela and Patrick followed in his footsteps and have their black belts as well. Golf was another passion, which Bruce shared with the love of his life, Jennifer.
Bruce had battled cancer in several forms for almost 25 years, and he was taken from his family and friends too early. But he left this world with his bucket list all completed. And although he is leaving a huge hole in the lives of his family and friends, they can be comforted knowing that Bruce lived large, loved them deeply and has gone to the great fishing hole in the sky.
A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held in September 2024 (when boating season is over) in Coldwater, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations to Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia are welcome and will be received by Carson Funeral Homes – L.Doolittle Chapel 54 Coldwater St. E Orillia (705)326-3595