James Douglas BRUCE

James Douglas (Doug) Bruce was born in Bay City, Michigan, to Robert Morford Bruce and Marguerite Lamarre Bruce on July 31st, 1940. He died in Spokane, Washington on September 25th, 2024. He was raised in Bay City and attended Albion College and University of Michigan Medical School. Doug was in medical school when he deferred his military obligation to finish his degree. He got out west by way of Fairchild AFB, where his assignment was to practice radiology for two years. He then joined Radiology Associates in Coeur d'Alene, where he worked for his entire career. Many of the physicians who arrived at about the same time (many from the midwest) are friends to this day.

It was no secret to friends and strangers alike that Doug was a huge Michigan fan, wearing fan clothing almost every day in his retirement years. He was always gratified to hear "Go Blue" anywhere in the world he traveled. Tennis was his other passion, having played since he was young and continuing in his adult years at the Spokane Club 4th Avenue courts. He started the Bob Bruce Memorial Tennis Tournament in Coeur d'Alene as a cancer fundraiser in honor of his father. He started the annual Priest Lake Tennis Open for his Spokane Club buddies, playing on a court in Huckleberry Bay, Priest Lake.

During their retirement, Doug and Teresa traveled extensively, going to all continents except Antarctica and Africa. On Doug's bucket list was the four tennis grand slams and many trips were based on attending one of the slams. They also enjoyed many years with Michigan friends hiking and playing tennis in Tucson during the winter months.

In 1997, Doug had a log house built at Huckleberry Bay and spent many years enjoying all that Priest Lake offered with his wife, Teresa. Cruising the bay in his 1956 Century Coronado classic wooden boat on a warm summer evening was an enduring pleasure for Doug.

When a tennis buddy, (Graham Bevin) died and Doug learned that he had volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Doug decided to volunteer also. He loved and supported the Spokane Symphony and talked of the great privilege we have in Spokane to have such a group. Doug was a runner, and he finished nineteen marathons in various places and all but about five Bloomsdays until he was unable to participate by 2019.

Doug was a wonderful husband to Teresa Vanairsdale -- together for twenty-five years; father to Craig and Jim (Jill); uncle to Cheryl (Dennis) and Todd; stepfather to Jenna (Aaron) and Stephen; grandfather to Keinyn (Katie), Janie, Josh, Aidan, and Ethan. He was an avid reader, he fished, played chess and ping-pong, hiked, kayaked, swam, and boated with all of us; and was the best griller of all time.

Doug was kind, paid attention to everyone, never wanted to draw attention to himself, and recently started saying "I love you" when family members left his room.

Warm thanks are in order for Doug's wonderful caregivers at Touchmark, both in Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing at the end of his life. Much gratitude is also due to Dr. Chalem, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Manek, and Dr. Clinton who saw him through the trials of the last several years.

There will be no service as per Doug's wishes. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held in the future.