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PHINNEY, Bruce Wendell (60263)

Parents

Birth

  • Born on 1958 in Middleton, Annapolis Co., NS

Death

  • Died on December 25, 2019 in Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality, NS

Marriages

Children

Notes

  • Obituary: This obituary is a reminder that we must not take our days for granted - published far too soon, it will never fully capture "Bruce Wendell Phinney". It is with heavy hearts that the family of Bruce Wendell Phinney, of Halifax, announces his passing at the of age 61, following a brief illness, on Wednesday, December 25, 2019, in the VG Site \endash QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax. Born in Middleton, Bruce was the son of the late Wendell Phinney and Georgie (Palmeter) Phinney. Bruce's love of business began as a young boy working on the floor of his father's clothing store, R.W. Phinney's. This led him to Acadia University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1981. He was active in student leadership, assuming the role of Treasurer of the Acadia Students' Union. He went on to obtain his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 1985 while working for Touche Ross. In 2012, Bruce was honoured to be awarded the Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) designation. During his CA career, Bruce worked on international finance and insolvency assignments in the Cayman Islands, the United Kingdom, and Abu Dhabi. He was assigned to one of the worlds largest bankruptcy cases involving the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), or, as he called it, the wild west of forensic accounting. On his return to Canada, Bruce expanded his career to the newspaper industry, as General Manager and Executive Vice-President of the Telegraph Journal and the Saint John Times Globe. In Nova Scotia, Bruce worked at the Irving Shipyards, Inland Technologies, Chester Plastics, and D.B. Kenney Fisheries before becoming an owner at the Guildfords Group of Companies. Recently, he was a director of many manufacturing and industrial businesses throughout Atlantic Canada, with Scotia Plastics being his pride and joy. Bruce was the President of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University, and a long-standing member of the Board of Governors (serving alongside his daughter Evan as the first parent/child Alumni duo on a university board in Atlantic Canada). It is impossible to adequately articulate Bruce's love for Acadia, but he bled red and blue. He would move mountains for his alma mater. Bruce devoted his time and energy to many clubs, associations, and interests including: President of the Waegwoltic Club; Board Member and Treasurer at Sacred Heart School of Halifax (SHSH); President of the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers. He sat on committees involving conduct and discipline with CPA Nova Scotia. In each instance, Bruce quietly (and, in some cases, less quietly) contributed in ways that improved the organization for its members. Bruce was the founder and chairman of the Sunday Morning Coffee Group that has been meeting for over twenty years. Bruce was constantly improving the lives of others. He never shied away from sharing his thoughts. He was real, and he was to the point. (He would get you the interview, but you had to get the job!) He cherished being a mentor to people of all ages: in life, business, and education. His most cherished role was being a father to his daughter Evan, whom he adored and of whom he was beyond proud. It brought Bruce great joy to lend a helping hand to anyone needing guidance and advice. He was but a phone call away, except between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, when he was dutifully watching 'the boys' on PTI. His keen interest in sports had him supporting every degree of participation as a sponsor of minor basketball; AUS men's and women's basketball; Upper Sweets Corner Jump Start Series of horse shows; the Coveside Classic Horse Show; Restless Pines Gold Horse Shows; 2010 Co-chair of the Nova Scotia Provincial Summer Swimming Program; and 2010 Chair of the NS Summer Swimming Provincial Championships. He quietly supported the SHSH debating program. He was quick to support charities and interests that helped his friends' cycle, walk, climb, paddle, and swim to their goals while raising charitable funds. Bruce was instrumental in the re-establishment of the Acadia Varsity Swim Team and was an on-deck official at the inaugural swim meet. He proudly obtained his National Level 5 Swim Officials designation. An avid cook and chef, Bruce loved to feed a crowd! The bigger, the better. Somehow, he always managed to serve food hot and perfectly timed for all to enjoy. In his younger years, he was an experienced diver, sailor, and boater. In recent summers, he enjoyed hosting tours of the Chester area in his Boston Whaler. He was fixated with having copious quantities of marine-grade rope on hand \endash enough to secure one of her Majesty's frigates. He was the best horseshow dad and would go to great lengths to help Evan pursue her passion for competing with horses Wonderland and Bling. Bruce's hidden talents included being an accomplished guitar and piano player with an extraordinary voice that was never off-key. His deep love of music was far-reaching. You wanted him on your trivia team to correctly answer the most obscure questions, music or otherwise. He was a certified SCUBA instructor and an accredited decompression chamber operator. Bruce was a marginal but enthusiastic golfer. Bruce especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends at his cottage, where his heart and soul were happiest. The cottage was his sanctuary where he thought things through, conjured up ideas, plans, and deals. He loved having a solid drink of scotch with dogs Eli and Peyton by his side. Bruce loved the ocean - whether looking at it, boating on it, or swimming in it. He lived life to the fullest and lived life large. Bruce is survived by his cherished wife, Gretchen (Knickle) and adored daughter, Evan Phinney (Jeff Grybel), Washington, DC; chosen Australian son, Shane Coupland (Nikki Martin), Halifax; stepmother, Maxine Phinney, Kentville; step-sister, Susan (Deron) Moores (Allie, Ryan), Kentville; sister-in-laws Annaleah Knickle, Halifax; Mary (Bill) Meyer (Cade, Carter), Needville, Texas; brother-in-law Dealy Knickle (Kaylann), Halifax; special mention to his 'guardian son' Alex Jack, Halifax, and other extended family members and treasured friends who were family. Cremation has taken place, and there will be no visitation. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 4, 2020, at University Hall, Acadia University, Wolfville, with Doctor Harry Gardner officiating. Bruce would want everyone to enjoy their day in the Valley. Please be comfortable and come as you are. For those brave enough, wear his favourite attire: shorts! A reception will follow at Acadia's KC Irving Environmental Science Centre. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made by donating blood (a commodity Bruce had new appreciation for) or through contributions to the Bruce Phinney Memorial Scholarship Bursary at Acadia University \endash no gift is too small, and each is deeply appreciated. Finally, the family wishes to acknowledge a wonderful group of health professionals: the doctors and nurses of the Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant groups, particularly the nurses and doctors on 8B at the VG; nurses and staff on the fourth floor VG Medical Day Unit (Bruce's home away from home); the QEII emergency department; Doctors Stephanie MacDonald, Ashley Miller and Guy Brisseau who stood beside Bruce as friends until the very end. Last but not least, the VG 3rd floor ICU team, Doctors Ward Patrick, Steve Bead, Evan Losier, Ari Morgenthau, and Bernard Burgesson. We are forever grateful to ICU Nurse Steph and her colleague Nurse Jenn for their devotion, kindness and outstanding professional conduct while caring for Bruce. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. Online condolences and inquiries to www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com. He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten by all who knew and loved him. Live simply, laugh lots. Dream big. Be grateful, give love. Go big or go home!
  • Occupation: Chartered Accountant/ General Manager & Executive Vice-President Saint John Telegraph Journal/ Employee at Irving Shipyards/ Chester Plastics/ Owner of Guildford Group

Sources

  • Funeral Home: White Family Funeral Home Kentville,NS Obituary December 2019

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