Born in Hamheung, now North Korea, on May 26, 1929 to George and Ellen Bruce. Bob died peacefully on January 15, 2022 in Toronto at the age of 92. Dearly missed by Margaret, his devoted wife of 64 years, and children Graham (Pam), Lynda (Stephen) and Kevin (Jennie). Beloved grandfather of Mahni, Joelan, Ruth, Ryden and Anaya and uncle to many adored nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his sister Rena Robertson.
Bob obtained a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Alberta, MSc and PhD in Physics from the University of Saskatchewan, and an MD from the University of Chicago. While in Saskatoon, he met the love of his life, Margaret MacFarlane, and they married in 1957. He joined the Ontario Cancer Institute in 1959, the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto in 1965 and the Department of Nutritional Sciences in 1985. He was the Director of the Toronto Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research from 1980 to 1988. He served as a Director of the American Association for Cancer Research from 1978 to 1982.
In a research career spanning more than 60 years, he published more than 200 papers and made significant contributions to several different areas of cancer research. His career began in radiation physics and radiobiology. He studied the selectivity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, particularly on leukemia, and developed the first computer database for cancer cases in Ontario. He then chose to focus on spermatogenesis, carcinogenesis and genetic toxicity.
In the late 1970’s, Bob’s major research objective shifted to elucidating the causes of colon cancer and using this information to devise strategies to prevent this disease. Bob pioneered the use of risk factors that are precursors to cancer to test ideas on the causes of cancer suggested by epidemiological data, including environment and diet. He identified changes in the cells of the lining of the colon (aberrant crypts) that are precursors to colon cancer, and used these changes to test and develop hypotheses linking diet and colon cancer. This novel approach to the study of cancer prevention has since been widely applied internationally in the study of cancers in other sites and to the conduct of intervention trials of cancer prevention.
Bob received many awards for his work including the Dameshek Award from the American Society of Hematology in 1970 for his work on leukemia. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and awarded the McLaughlin Gold Medal in 1980 for important research of sustained excellence in any branch of medical science. In 1995 he was awarded the O. Harold Warwick prize for contributions to cancer prevention from the Canadian Cancer Society for his work on the role of dietary factors and cancer.
Throughout his career he was an enthusiastic collaborator and was proud to count many accomplished colleagues in Canada and around the world as friends. Bob was known for his innovative approach to science, his immersion in multiple specialties and for generating, developing and discarding hypotheses.
Bob enjoyed being productive in his personal time too, with interests that included farming, maple syrup production, hydroponics and building a lap pool in his basement. Bob was deeply grateful for the steadfast and enthusiastic support of his wife Margaret, who made all his accomplishments (professional and personal) possible. His children were dragged along on many of the recreational escapades, with varying degrees of cooperation and interest. As a result, they have many great memories and stories to tell.
The family sends special thanks to the staff of Cummer Lodge, and especially to Isabel, Vicky and Wilma, for their attentive and loving care over the past few years. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will make arrangements to celebrate Bob's life at a later date. Your memories and stories about Bob would be appreciated by the family, and can be shared on the “Share a Memory” tab below.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5