Bruce ,will be greatly missed but his warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit will be remembered forever .  I will be remembered the time spent with you in Bucharest and Braila (Romania) too .

Dear Laura, Caitlyn and Molly:
Will never forget your family as next door neighbours and our family “in America” from the time we first met you. I think Laura was about 11 years old? She said she was “half Canadian” and filled us in on the summers in the cottage. 
Carry on the traditions of Christmas Eve and grab bags, Easter and Hungarian food and Malcolm’s Yorkshire puds.  Bruce and Denise had the home that was comfy, relaxed and all about family and the children. A lot of thought went into everything from your parents. You were and are so loved. 




It was well over ten years ago that Bruce burst into the lives of the UK, European and Scandinavian Kinks fans.  I think we met online through the pages of Neil Ottenstein's Kinks Digest, and then we'd see him at all sorts of things from Ray solos to the Kast Off Kinks shows, The Kinksfan Konvention, and The Kinksfan Kollektiv gigs.  Of course in the US he was able to see Dave play live too.  Bruce made friends wherever he went.

Bruce and Denise came over for our wedding in 2010.  Their present to me was an enormous bundle of Kinks videos, and for Mike, a chance to go and see his favourite American Football team, The Green Bay Packers, play in Washington DC. Thoughtful presents indeed! We spent a lovely week with them, getting to know them and the girls better, as well as Eight Ball and Winston and Saffron.

Bruce was such a generous man and great company.  We'd meet up for meals many times when he was over. Often there would be a group of us before a gig, and he'd quietly go and pay for everyone - even people he'd just met. We would try to outsmart him, but he always got there before us!

Losing Denise so tragically really left its mark on him.  From then on, Bruce would gravitate towards me to dance through the poignant "Days": both of us in tears. 

The Kast Off Kinks really took him to their hearts, and he would surprise them by turning up unannounced at very obscure places to see their shows.  It's hard to know that Bruce will not be joining us for more fan fun, but I can see him in spirit next to me during song like "Days" and "Village Green Preservation Society".  From the tributes that have been posted online, it is obvious that he touched so many people in every aspect of his life.

It has been a blessing to have Bruce in our lives, and we are sure that he and Denise are happy together again. 

Our love goes to Laura and John, Caitlyn and Molly as well as Doug and Donald.

Let's go and gather those rosebuds!

Olga and Mike

I got to know Bruce through the Kinks mailing list.  We had a good correspondence through the list. I met him a few times at concerts and at area gatherings of Kinks fans including at his home.  My fondest memory of him is seeing that by surprise he was on the same plane coming back from England.  We had been on a cruise and he was coming back from one of his many trips there.  We saw him at the airport and there was great joy in his face in seeing us.  He was a great friend and he will be missed.

Living in The Netherlands, I got in contact with Bruce several years ago because of our mutual love for the British group The Kinks. He was looking for a copy of one of their original albums to add to his vast collection, and I was able to track it down for a handsome price. Bruce was overjoyed with it. A few years ago I actually met him during a Kinks Meeting in Harderwijk, The Netherlands. Although his life had gone through some considerable turmoil because of Denise's passing, I found him to be happy and cheerful. He had found a new love and a way to deal with losing Denise. I admired him for that. He still carried a photo of Denise with him, which he was happy to show me. It's sad to realise that some of us have to leave at a relative young age.

I met Bruce and Denise in February of 2004, if I remember the year correctly, through our mutual appreciation for the band Squeeze. My immediate impression of them was so warm - Bruce was so positive and friendly, Denise was very much his quiet and smiling sidekick, happy to watch him shine as he chatted away with other die hard Squeeze fans, which I am admittedly. 

My heart completely broke for him and their beautiful daughters when Denise passed. Having lost my 5 year old son unexpectedly, I knew it was a true heart break for him - yet he seemed to soldier on, knowing if he couldn’t change the loss of Denise he might as well enjoy what life there was without her. I honestly learned a lot from him - albeit from a distance - in finding a way to find joy again, despite a loss that devastated his normally positive spirit. 

My last memory of Bruce is when we caught Glenn Tilbrook in Virginia  in 2013, for one of Glenn’s frequent non-Squeeze gigs. Bruce was his cheerful self and he commented to me how he couldn’t figure out how Glenn could play the guitar the way he did given that Glenn’s fingers were very obviously much shorter than Bruce’s 😄. It was small talk but happy talk and that’s how I will remember him best - laughing and shaking his head as he often did. 

All I could think of as I rode the train home from New York City to my hometown on Long Island last evening were the closing lyrics to the Kinks’ “Celluloid Heroes” and how I will forever think of Bruce when I hear them:

Celluloid heroes never feel any pain
And celluloid heroes never really die. 

Bruce, you will always be my Celluloid Hero.... May you and Denise be together again, enjoying eternal life and happiness on the Other Side and please - if you see my little boy, give him a big hug from his Mommy. 

I used to work for Bruce MacQueen back in 1992 and he was a wonderful boss and friend. He was always so kind and wonderful to everyone. I will dearly miss him.

Bruce - you were so amazing to my parents who lived in your complexes since 1982.

Your generosity and flexibility with us will always be remembered.  My mom always had great things to say about you.  And after she passed, your visit to me and my dad was greatly welcome and comforting.

If family is reading this - please reach out to us if there is anything we can do.

Rest in Peace Mr. Macqueen,

Erika Cook


OBITUARY

Bruce Campbell Macqueen

October 25, 1954 – February 14, 2019

Murphy Funeral Homes

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services