Geoffrey BRUCE

Dear Mrs. Bruce,

As a schoolgirl, I was your next-door-neighbour on Bruyere street. Both of my parents are long dead, but as a family we were well aware of your husbands many achievements in the world of diplomacy. We were proud to have you both as neighbours, and your husband was gentle and kind to me whenever we spoke.

I wish you all the strength you need in this difficult period.

Dear Erika,
Elaine and I are saddened to learn that Geoff has passed away. He was a great supporter of international development during the four years that I served in Nairobi. Geoff always consulted the CIDA staff whenever he had been approached by Kenyans about an aid-related project.
Among his wide-ranging interests, his love of the environment was demonstrated to us during a project visit to the Kenya coast with the CIDA reps and cooperants. Long after we were all back in the boat following a snorkeling excursion, he was so enchanted that he kept on swimming and admiring the aquatic life.
His diplomatic skills were in evidence each year during the Thanksgiving celebrations that brought together Canadians serving throughout Kenya. Tradition required that he take the position of umpire of the Canadian East vs. West baseball game. When it became clear which side (usually the West) would win, he kept the scores close by making some very unorthodox calls.
John Copland

Dearest Erika,
We just learned of Geoff's passing while here in Hanoi. We are deeply saddened and look forward to seeing you once again when the time is right. Brian & Virginie

I am so sorry for your loss. It was my privilege to have known Mr. Bruce. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Dear Erika, I have just returned from a meeting of the FET group. I reported on the sad events that have happened to you during the last weeks. It is true that only a few members knew Geoff at all and then only briefly.I was able to tell them what I knew about Geoff and what an important role he undertook for Canada and for the world. The group requested that I extend sincere condolences to you. It is a duty I perform with sadness for you and your family.

On behalf of the executive and members of Friends of English Theatre.
Fran Pearl

Dear Erika,
We only got to know Geoff during the last few years of his life through his and your interest in the theatre trips organized by Friends of English Theatre in Ottawa. He immediately impressed us as a gentleman of culture and refinement. We are greatly saddened by his passing not only because of the immense loss it represents to you and to your family but because we did not have the opportunity and privilege of enjoying his friendship more fully. We are fortunate to have known him even for a short time.
With deepest sympathy,
Fran and Paul Pearl

Dear Erica - my deepest sympathies
Ron

Dear Erika, On behalf of myself and my staff, I would like to add my sincere condolences to you and your family. Geoffrey's lifetime of accomplishments leaves us with a clear view into his character as a person. He, and his "dry sense of humour" will be missed.

Sincerely, Dr. Levine

Dear Erica,
I would like to tell you

































I would like to offer my condolences at the passing of Geoffrey. You made a great couple. It would be nice to get together. My friend Robert is not well, so my life has changed considerably.
Be Well
Best Wishes
Tova

Geoffrey was an esteemed colleague with whom I had the privilege to work very closely at UNEP in Nairobi in the 70s and when he was in Lisbon and I was in Madrid in the 80s, and we both lived on Bruyere when on Ottawa postings. We also found ourselves together in Brussels in the 90s when I was at the WTTC and Erika was at NATO; we socialised frquently and were guests in our respective homes.

Geoff was an endearing individual, full of life, not at all pedantic and rather self demeaning, never playing one upmanship, a model for younger FSOs and a font of knowledge about international relations and what was really behind media stories. His sense of humour was contagious and he and Erika were superb hosts at dinner parties. I fondly recall many entertaining evenings at their residences in Nairobi, Lisbon, Brussels and Ottawa.

Bettina joins me in sending our condolences to Erika and Geoffrey's family. Sadly,we are unlikely to see people of Geoff's calibre in Canada's Foreign Service again.

Lorne Clark

Chère Erika, mes sincères condoléances. J'ai beaucoup apprécié travailler avec Geff, un homme de profondes valeurs humaines et humanitaires.

Chère Erika,

C'est avec tristesse qu'Anne-Marie et moi apprenons le départ de votre cher époux Bruce. Anne-Marie Bourcier se souvient de votre accueil chaleureux au Kenya. Bruce fut mon prédécesseur à la Vice-Présidence aux politiques ainsi qu'à la coopération industrielle.
Je garde de lui le souvenir d'un homme charmant qui croyait profondément au rôle du Canada dans le monde. Il offrit son engagement et sa compétence partout où il servit.

Mes sincères condoléances

All the way from New Zealand, I read with sadness that Geoff has left us. Dear Erika though we haven't connected for a long time, I remember you both with great fondness, stay strong. With much love from Julie

Madame Bruce,
C'est avec tristesse que j'ai appris le décès de votre époux. Veuillez accepter mes profondes condoléances; que vos souvenirs vous soutiennent pendant cette période difficile.