Obituary
MURPHY, James Bruce
Port Williams died November 20, 2008, in QEII Health Sciences Centre with his beloved family by his side. He was 55. The son of the late Cora (Pieroway) and John (Jack) Murphy, Bruce grew up on Kline Street in west end Halifax. Bruce's mother always had a special place in his heart. He graduated from Queen Elizabeth High School in 1971 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Honours Chemistry at Dalhousie University in 1975. He was a member of the Dalhousie Medical School Class of 1980 and was very proud of his Silver D, awarded for overall excellence in student leadership and contribution to student life at Dalhousie Medical School. He went on to do a residency in urology at Dalhousie, graduating in 1985. He then pursued a fellowship in male reproductive medicine, surgery and microsurgery at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
Bruce married Lesley Gray, whom he adored, in 1988 and they moved to St. John's, N.L., where he began his medical practice. Later, the family, which now included Katherine Eleanor, moved to Bridgewater and Bruce began work at South Shore Regional Hospital. The family expanded to include Matthew John Allan. Shortly after Jillian Hannah arrived, the family moved to Port Williams where Bruce practised at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville. He continued to maintain ties with the South Shore, operating a clinic in the hospital every Thursday, rain, shine or blizzard.
Bruce was truly concerned for his patients and their welfare was uppermost in his thoughts when illness forced him to stop work in September. But the most important thing in Bruce's life was his wife and children, and he was a devoted and loving husband and dad. He fostered in the children a love of books and animals, cheered at hockey and soccer games and track and field, and took them on the scariest rides at the theme parks, was firm on the subject of homework and worked hard to give them the best of everything. It was one of his greatest regrets that he would not live to see them succeed.
His friends will remember him for a fine mind, his unflagging support in times of need - usually given before it had to be sought - and a unique sense of humour. He could unabashedly enjoy life like a big kid or tackle the worst it had to offer head on. Lesley would like to extend her heartfelt gratitude to Bruce's buddies from med school who maintained a vigil at the hospital: doctors Sian Iles, Joe Lawen, Stephen McCarthy, Vicky and Mike Mitchell, Paul Price and Wally Tien and very dear friends, Dr. Al Bishop, Dr. Cathy Shea, Heather Fleury, Drs. Alastair and Gillian McArthur and his very special Aunt May.
Besides his wife and children, Bruce is survived by brothers, Gordon (Joy), Georgetown, Barbados and George (Kathy), Halifax; aunts, May (Don) Dorey, Pam (Harry) Orr and Sonia (Andrew) Comeau, all of the Halifax area; sister-in-law, Eleanor; his niece and nephew, Allison and David, and several cousins. He is also survived by Dr. Sian Iles, who has been a special aunt to Kate, Matt and Jill. A private family service will be held in Little Harbour Presbyterian Church, Little Harbour. A celebration of Bruce's life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, an informal trust fund has been established to ensure Kate, Matthew and Jillian complete their university education, which would have been Bruce's greatest wish. Anyone wishing to contribute may do so through the Kentville branch of CIBC. E-mail condolences may be sent to: rh@rhporterfuneralhomesltd.ca