Obituary of Dr. Bruce Wesley Redmond

January 14, 1926 - Calgary, Alberta

January 11, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

“I’ve had a wonderful life … and the most important thing was to have fun.” - Bruce Redmond, December 2023.

Bruce Redmond passed away in his sleep on Thursday, January 11, 2024, just three days short of his 98th birthday. A proudly raised Calgarian, he deeply loved this city and this province. He attended Earl Grey Elementary, King Edward Junior High, and Central Collegiate Institute, where he was a member of the Kappa Kappa Tau Fraternity. He never forgot the secret fraternity handshake and made deep and lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers, as well as with so many others he grew up with.

After serving in the closing months of World War II as a radio operator in the Royal Canadian Navy (during which time he was lucky enough to find himself in New York City for the celebrations that marked the end of the War), Bruce went on to study at the College of Optometry of Ontario and graduated with his Doctor of Optometry in 1950. Returning to Calgary, he built a successful optometric practice in the community of Kensington and worked at his profession for 50 years. Bruce and June married on September 24, 1954, and built the family home facing River Park in Altadore, where they raised Paul and Louise. With Bruce as the organizer and June as the communicator, numerous adventures were launched, and they hosted many gatherings and parties, most notably the annual Redmond Christmas Eve party that grew larger and larger over the decades.

In high school, Bruce initiated Peter Lougheed into the Kappa Kappa Tau Fraternity by making him carry his schoolbooks and walk three feet behind him on the way to school. Many years later, he made up for that when he became a key campaign organizer in Peter Lougheed’s 1967 campaign in the Calgary West constituency, and in 1971 he was one of the key members of the team of dedicated volunteers that worked to elect the first Conservative government in Alberta’s history. He became the Progressive Conservative Party President in 1974 and went on to be involved in the work of the 1975, 1979, and 1982 elections. Bruce was exceedingly proud to be an Albertan and to have been able to contribute to this province. He remained close with many of the people he worked with over those years and always cherished the fun and hijinks of his annual fishing trip and wine tasting contest with his good friends from the political days.

Running parallel to Bruce’s volunteer work in politics was his tremendous commitment to the Calgary Stampede. He began his Stampede volunteer career on the Courtesy Car Committee and in 1968 moved to the Grandstand Attractions Committee, where for the next 25 years he helped to guide the evolution of the evening grandstand show in every capacity: sound, lighting, dressing rooms, orchestra, calling stage cues, managing the fireworks contracts, hosting professional performers, scheduling transportation, and even building and painting props. In 1973, Bruce helped to chaperone a three-week Young Canadians performance tour to Germany (which he conveniently also turned into the family vacation). His time as Committee Chair from 1976 to 1981 saw the growth of the Young Canadians program as well as technical advancements to the new grandstand stage and recording facilities. Bruce deeply embraced the Stampede spirit, and as was his way, forged many friendships that he carried forward long after his retirement from the committee. In 1988, he was made a Stampede Life Member in recognition of his many contributions. He attended his last Grandstand Show at the age of 96.

Bruce enjoyed hunting for game birds with Paul and the family’s two English Setter hunting dogs, particularly at the annual Thanksgiving father-son hunting trip that over the years could include a group of up to thirty. Although always a rather disinterested golfer, along the way he also found the time to become part of the ownership group of the Fountain Hills Golf Course in Arizona.

Bruce and June enjoyed many good times with friends at their Windermere cabin, whether it was organizing and hosting the annual “Windy Open” golf tournament, setting off fireworks and ringing in the New Year with friends (sometimes with Bruce dressed as the New Year’s Baby), solving the problems of the world with friends over a nice dinner and good wine, or just enjoying the view from the deck. Over the years, the Windermere cabin became his beloved place.

Upon retiring from his optometric practice at the age of 75, Bruce surprised us all by taking on a flyer delivery route to keep fit, but he always kept himself available to help with school pick-ups, to attend virtually all his grandsons’ hockey games and practices, and to watch the Drumheller football team that Paul coached. During retirement, he loved attending pretty much any event where he could connect with people, spending time at the cabin, talking and arguing the politics of the day, going to the CPO Pops concerts, and most recently, enjoying a cold ginger ale and a Dad’s oatmeal cookie. He was an enthusiastic resident at the Royal Park retirement residence for many years, where he took up singing in the choir, was a devoted attendee at the weekly happy hour, and went on as many bus excursions as he could manage. The family will always be thankful to everyone at Royal Park who made his life there so happy and fulfilling.

Throughout his life, Bruce’s traits of kindness, enthusiasm, friendliness, and loyalty drew him to people, and they to him. He continued to show his characteristic fortitude as he faced the challenges of his last few years and told us all repeatedly, “I have been so lucky in my life.” As a family, we will be eternally grateful to him for letting us journey along with him on the ride. He will be greatly missed and always embedded in the hearts of Paul and Lise, Louise and Don, Andrew, Grant, Clairissa, Olivia, Justin, Brittany, Serenity, and Roland. He was predeceased in 2000 by his beloved wife June, whom he missed to the very end.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church (1121 – 14th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB) on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Bruce’s family here.

In living memory of Bruce Redmond, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.