Bruce SMITH

SMITH, Dr. James Bruce
1944 - 2013
Bruce Smith died in Knowlton on December 7 after bravely and stoically enduring a relentless debilitating illness. After a childhood spent in Montreal he graduated in medicine and completed a residency in anesthesiology at McGill. The first half of his career as a staff anesthesiologist was spent at McGill in the Royal Victoria Hospital and the remainder at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Both at McGill and Dalhousie he served as director of the residency program in anesthesiology. Bruce was an outstanding clinician and received a national award for his teaching skills. Generations of anesthesiologists have regarded him as a supportive mentor and role model. A friendly and approachable manner made him popular with his students who remember with affection the important influence Bruce had on their lives. In healthier times Bruce loved the outdoor life but latterly enjoyed bringing the world of sport and his distant friends to him through modern technology. Always curious and remarkably intelligent, he remained interested in life around him until the end. His friends -and there are many- will always miss him. He was wonderful company with a ready smile, unpretentious, kind and generous. After taking early retirement he returned to Quebec and lived quietly in Knowlton. He was devoted to his loving wife Merete, her daughter Samantha and granddaughters Kiana and Kaely. The funeral is private. A commemoration of Bruce's life will be held at a later date.