Obituary of Bruce Shaw

SHAW, Robert “Bruce”

Age 70, of River John, formerly of Windsor, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023. Bruce was the youngest son of the late Robert and Lois (Weir) Shaw of Centre Burlington, Hants County, which is where he grew up and raised his family in a home he lovingly built.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 48 years, Debby (Begin); his children, Rachel, Adam (Tenisha) and Kelly (Eric Ogilvie); grandchildren, Melody and Sam Kefalas, Gabbi and Felicia Shaw, Ryan and Ashley Ogilvie; brother, Clary (Nancy); sister-in-law, Pauline Aubin-Shaw. Debby’s siblings and their spouses were his good friends. Carolyn and Charles Hope, Roxanna and Bruce #1 Johanson and Tom Begin and Faye Johnson offered unconditional support. He loved his many nieces and nephews. 

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brother, Arnold; a niece and two nephews.

Bruce started his career as a salesperson with Windsor Auto Supply. After several years of steady growth, he went on to work directly for UAP Corporate. After many years and many positions when he left UAP he oversaw 12 corporate owned auto parts stores across the Maritime Provinces. The last 15 years of his career he worked for Oulton Fuels in Windsor as their Operations Manager.

There wasn’t much that Bruce couldn’t do. If he didn’t know how he learned. Reading Popular Mechanics, Fine Woodworking or more recently, scouring the internet, he’d gather the information and then cogitate on the best path of action to create or recreate or repair whatever was needed. 

Bruce was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend. He was proud of his children to whom he passed on his love of learning. Each of them is still actively engaged in learning new skills and he celebrated their individuality and creativity. His grandchildren are his legacy. If you could hear how he talks about you when you aren’t around; he is so delighted by each of you and your accomplishments. He fondly recounts so many stories of the hours spent in his best friend, Fred’s, garage and yard building, rebuilding and repairing and repairing and repairing the race car in preparation for the next great race at Scotia Speed World. 

Bruce was community minded and volunteered for various committees and service groups and he was a Rotarian. For several years he was involved with the Windsor Summer Festival (then named Sam Slick Days).

He travelled, initially for work, he and Debby went on glorious trips. Then, in retirement he travelled with Fred and Bruce to Las Vegas for a trade show, Eric to see the Daytona 500, Kelly to see their favourite Blue Jays play the Yankees at home in Toronto. In late 2019 Debby and Bruce sold their house and intended to travel for a year through the USA living in their truck camper.  Unfortunately, four months in there was a pandemic. They returned to Nova Scotia and bought their dream retirement property in River John and that community embraced them. 

Special cheers to Lisa for your loving care. Appreciation to Palliative Care and the VON. Cheryl, your understanding and compassion will be remembered. To our new neighbours in River John, this past year would have been much more difficult without your company and kindness. To our family – there are no words that can adequately carry the love you’ve shown and the help you’ve given. 

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 (902-798-8317). The family will receive visitors to celebrate Bruce’s life on Saturday, August 5 anytime between 1-3 p.m., in the funeral home’s Elmcroft Reception Centre. Donations in memory of Bruce may be made to ALS Society of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, 1000 Windmill Rd, Suite 1, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1B4. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca

“With broken hearts we release Bruce from his broken body.”