We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Wilkins Savage, CD (Ret’d) on 25 April 2018 in Toronto, ON. Bruce was the Technical Director of the Lewis S. Beattie vocational high school in North York a Toronto and served the Canadian Military Engineers for many years with 2nd Field Engineer Regiment in Toronto.
Bruce taught at two vocational schools in his career. The first one was Bendale Vocational School in Scarborough where he taught for one year. He then moved to Lewis S. Beattie in North York where he eventually became Technical Director and responsible for all the technical trades. He had a deep appreciation of those who pursued these studies and frequently went into the community to source speakers. He served on the Board of Directors of the Army Cadet League of Ontario (c2005 – 2008).
Bruce joined 2nd Field Engineer Regiment (2 FER) in 1959 on attachment from the Lincoln & Welland Regiment and was employed in the unit Quarter Master section at Fort York Armoury. After qualifying as Captain in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps he transferred to the Canadian Military Engineers. Bruce rose through the ranks to eventually be appointed Commanding Officer 2 FER (1978 – 1980).
Bruce had a strong interest in the military and its history and heritage. He was a member of Royal Canadian Legion Fort York Branch 165. Bruce was an active member of the Military Engineer Association of Canada and was a member and office holder with Petard Corporation that provides support to the military engineering profession.
Bruce was a member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI) since 1974 and worked energetically on the Museum Committee (from 1986), chaired the Library Committee (1991-1996), and advised the RCMI Board of Directors as Honourary Curator (1998-2016).
He was a bibliophile. He was on the RCMI Library Committee since 1988 and he also served on the Georgina Public Library committee for the last several years. Bruce also gave voluntary support to the Georgina Military Museum. Bruce sourced and donated numerous badges and other military documents and artefacts to museums. He donated some 500 artifacts (from cap badges to rifles) to the RCMI Museum.
As a hobby, Bruce sourced and rebuilt three Canadian military vehicles to original running order [ a M38A Canadian model jeep, a Universal Carrier ("Wasp"/ flamethrower model), and a WWII-era Diamond T Wrecker/Recovery vehicle. All were donated to military museums and the recovery vehicle is now on display at CFB Borden Museum.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Bruce Savage at Sharon-Hope United Church, 18648 Leslie St, in Sharon, ON at 1:00 PM Saturday, 5 May.
