BRUCE, James Cooper
October 16, 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, James Cooper Bruce. He passed away at the Lakeshore General Hospital on October 16, 2022. He was born on March 7, 1932, in Calgary to James and Mary Bruce. Jim was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (née Fraser). He will be dearly missed by his children Norman (Arlene), Lynda (René), David (Heidi), and Susan (Ray), many grand and great-grand children, his sister, Gloria and close friends.

Jim spent his early adulthood in Winnipeg working as an aeronautical draftsman at MacDonald Brothers and TCA while fulfilling a childhood dream of learning to fly small aircraft. He also taught himself to cartoon, draw and paint which eventually led to a career as a commercial artist. He married Shirley in 1957 and transferred to Montreal with TCA in 1960. He later worked for The Montreal Star as the art director, eventually leaving to start his own advertising firm.

Jim is recognized as an accomplished fine artist and as a renowned historical aviation artist. His work can be seen in private, corporate and museum collections worldwide. His love of aircraft was foremost in his life, though he also loved music and writing and was gifted at both.

To those who knew him, they recall a true gentleman, with a wicked sense of humour, a lifelong desire to learn, and a great love of animals, especially his cat, Monet. Jim will be sadly missed.

There will be an interment for Jim and Shirley on May 18^th, 2023, at Belvedere Cemetery at 1 pm for family and close friends, followed by a celebration of life from 2-4pm at the Montreal Aviation Museum in St Anne de Bellevue, where some of Jim’s works are permanently on display.