Contributions to the tribute of (Richard) Bruce Simpson

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Faculty Association University of Waterloo pledged to donate to GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Please accept our sincere condolences

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Louise Dawdy donated to GRAND RIVER HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Sunday, January 17, 2021

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Janet Hinchley donated to Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario

Sunday, January 10, 2021

Thinking of you all. We always enjoyed Bruce's good nature and humour, in addition to all his interests.

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Angelica DeVos donated to KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Friday, January 8, 2021

Janice, Emily, Ben and I were very sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. The two of you were always such a loving example of relationship. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Angelica

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Betty Jacobs posted a condolence

Monday, January 4, 2021

I had the great pleasure of working with Bruce when he was Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Mathematics, UW. I wish to extend my Deepest Sympathy to his family. Betty Jacobs

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John and Barbara Buttars posted a condolence

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Dear Janis and families: We are sad to read today in the Globe and Mail of your loss in the death of Bruce. I have such warm life-giving memories of you when you were part of the Guelph scene, Janis and Geoff. I always valued Bruce's presence and simply the quality of the person he was. Christmas is a hard time to grieve but it is also a time when we are more conscious of each other, particularly in this strange year. Many blessings during these days. We hold you in our hearts. John Buttars

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Ian Munro posted a condolence

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Bruce and I came to Waterloo, and computer science at the University in 1971, the year about nine of us did, increasing the complement of faculty to about 25. At 31 years of age, Bruce was the senior member of the new crew. Three of us — Alan George, Bruce and I — had the rest of our careers in what became the Computer Science Department, then the School of Computer Science at Waterloo. In the mid 1970s, Bruce and I coached an Atom hockey team. I have memories of us picking up and rearranging players on the bench, retying skates and driving kids around. A couple of years later we both had sabbaticals in England and managed to pass a used Datsun Cherry between us as we left and Bruce and his family arrived. It must have been a tight fit for five Simpsons, but that Cherry provided months of weekend exploration for all. Later, around the time Janis came into the picture, Bruce and I were up to our ears in meetings of the Formative Committee for the Information Technology Research Centre. I recall not only (too) many a trip to Toronto and environs, but also the joy of working with Bruce. I greatly miss my good friend and colleague of almost half a century, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to Janis and all the family.

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David Lam posted a condolence

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Bruce was my Ph. D. supervisor ( and I think I must be his first Ph. D. student successfully graduated at Waterloo in 1973/74). I learned a lot from him. First and foremost, it was him who clarified to me what a Ph.D. thesis was about. It was meant to be a training so that years later we do original research, write scientific papers and go through peer review in the same way. He guided my thesis research on the Box Scheme, a novel finite difference scheme for solving differential equations proposed by Herbert Keller from Caltech at the time. One of the things I stumbled upon with the Box Scheme is that, its discretized form would turn a differential equation such as the advection-diffusion equation into an algebraic matrix equation with a spatial averaging effect on the time derivative. Bingo! Isn’t that what finite element methods do also! Thus, the discretized form of the box scheme, a finite difference method, is similar to those of finite element methods. Excited, Bruce used his research grant to help me travel to Winnipeg and I presented the research result at a conference (my first scientific conference) there. Later, we wrote a paper about it and submitted it to the J. Computational Physics and got accepted, i.e., my first journal paper. That is, through this process, working with Bruce, I learned how to be a scientific researcher. Thanks to Bruce, his deep insight, his kind advice, his analytical intelligence, his scientific integrity and his broad knowledge have inspired me throughout my research career at Environment Canada. We will all miss him dearly. David Lam

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Esther & Keith Devolin posted a condolence

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

We were so saddened to read of Bruce's death. His obit is lovely & tells his story so well. We will always remember his sense of humour & his joy of living, which he did despite his Parkinson's diagnosis. Our sincere sympathy to Janis & families. Knowing Bruce has been a blessing in our lives. Shalom Esther & Keith

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Heather Ayer posted a condolence

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Our friendship began when Bruce was dating Janis and Brian and I were dating. Geof referred to Bruce and Brian as "the Killer B's" We have special memories of our trips together to France and Quebec City. We will miss our dinners and lunches with a very special friend. We will especially miss Bruce's dry sense of humour. Heather and Brian Ayer

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Heather Ayer uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

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Photos from sabbatical in Toulouse and several New Year's Eve dinners with friends

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Meda and Bogdan Costea lit a candle

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Dear Janis, Our thoughts are with you and the family; please accept our condolences. May Bruce rest in peace. We will miss seeing him. Your neighbors, Meda and Bogdan

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Ming Li lit a candle

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Condolences to Bruce's family. I was Bruce's roommate once at Niagara Falls during a department retreat. I remember his kind manners and interesting chats.

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Daniel Berry posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

I took numerical methods from Bruce in 1968, when I was a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Bruce was a brand new assistant professor. I loved the class because Bruce was a good teacher AND he gave us assignments that required us to write and run programs! When I arrived at UW in 1998 as a new prof, he approached me as someone out of his past. I remembered him instantly. I was surprised that Bruce remembered me, just one of the many, many undergraduate students he has taught. While we were in entirely different areas, we had interesting conversations over the years on the impact of computer science on life in general. I remember inviting Bruce and Janis to my house for dinner one evening. I made a mistake and gave him the wrong address; I had given him the street address of my apartment in Troy, NY, where RPI is. Fortunately, I was listed in the phone book and he found the house, when he realized that there was no such street in Waterloo. I will miss him. May his name be a blessing to all who remember him.

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Joan Cherry pledged to donate to KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

In memory of Bruce Simpson.

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Joan Cherry pledged to donate to KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

In memory of Bruce Simpson.

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Peter Forsyth posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Bruce and I were colleagues in Computer Science at Waterloo for many years. My fondest memory of Bruce was his enthusiasm for organizing social functions, usually involving graduate students and faculty members in Scientific Computing. Summer picnics at local conservation areas required detailed car pooling arrangements, lists of food and drink, and rounding up of graduate students on the day in question. Even when faced with a pile of exams to mark, it was impossible to avoid Bruce's insistence on participating in the pre-Christmas beer-drinking session at a local pub. Things certainly went downhill (from the social angle) after Bruce retired. We will all miss him. Peter Forsyth

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Gladimir V. G. Baranoski lit a candle

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

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Gladimir V. G. Baranoski posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Bruce was a very honorable man. More than a colleague, I considered him a true friend. I am very sad for his passing, but glad for the privilege to have known him. During my first years in Waterloo, he was one the persons that helped me the most through his positive attitude and encouragement. I will always be very grateful for that. I wish to give my sincere condolences to his family. He left us, but his principles and examples of integrity and friendship will stay with us forever.

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The family of (Richard) Bruce Simpson uploaded a photo

Monday, December 14, 2020

(Richard) Bruce Simpson

1940 - 2020