Obituary of Bruce Hutcheson Neil

March 24, 1938 – January 10, 2025

Bruce Hutcheson Neil, 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 10, 2025, at the Ottawa Heart Institute, with his beloved wife and lifelong adventure partner, Anne, by his side.

Born in Montreal on March 24, 1938, Bruce led a remarkable life, full of love, travel, and adventure. A devoted husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is survived by his loving wife Anne, his daughter Theresa, his son Christopher and his little sister Heather. He was a proud Bampa to James, Harrison, Peter, and Calvin, and a doting great-grandfather to Perrin, Pearl, Riley, and Billie. Uncle Bruce to Jason, Christine and Rick. Bruce is reunited in peace with his brother Graeme and cherished daughter Libby, who passed away last year after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bruce’s career spanned decades with Bell Canada and included notable work with the United Nations. His professional life took him to Turkey, Jamaica, Peru, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, New York, and London, England, allowing him to explore the world and experience its diverse cultures.

Bruce was a man who embraced life to its fullest. He loved golf, skiing, diving, squash, and tennis, and he remained active, exercising daily until the end. He was a connoisseur of single malt Scotch, an avid traveler who journeyed to every corner of the globe, and a storyteller whose warmth and humor brought joy to all who knew him. A builder, a renovator and man who constantly had a project, he was always a man with a purpose. Above all, he loved his family and treasured the moments he shared with them. He would proudly tell anyone that listened all about them. 

Bruce’s vibrant spirit and zest for life will be celebrated with a gathering in March, where family and friends will raise a glass in his memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in honor of Bruce’s enduring legacy.

As we remember Bruce, let us carry forward his passion:

“We all share the same fate—no one escapes the end. But the measure of life is not in its length, but in its depth. To truly live is to break free from mere existence: to wander far, savor deeply, love fiercely, and give without limits. Your true legacy is not held in what you own, but in the hearts and lives you touch along the way.”