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Dr. Bruce Sells

Dr. Bruce Sells

Born: August 15th, 1930

Passed on: November 10th, 2018

PhD
Dr. Bruce Howard Sells born in Gatineau Mills August 15th, 1930 passed away peacefully at the age of 88 surrounded by his four children and by his loving companion Valerie Stephenson-Gray at the Brockville General Hospital on Saturday November 10th, 2018. Predeceased by his loving wife Bernice of 60 years. A loved and respected father of Jennifer Sells (Patrick Young), Monica Sells (Joseph Bornstein), David Sells (Lisa Hagglund) and Lisa Bokelmann. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren Nathan, Daria, Leah Sophie, Songjan, David and Sarah Ann, and great-grandchildren Madeline and Tessa. He also will be mourned by Valerie and missed by her children Pete and Rhonda and their families. A molecular biologist for 40 years whose career took him and his family to many wonderful cities around the world, resulting in children born in four different countries. A rich family life as well as fascinating academic career. Life in the Sells home was full of adventure, music, new experiences and lively conversations. He began with postdoctoral work in Belgium and Denmark. He became a leading researcher on Ribosomes. In 1972, after 10 years at Memphis Tennessee's St. Jude's children's hospital he moved his complete laboratory of 18 research associates to Newfoundland at the newly formed medical school of Memorial University. He was Associate Dean of Basic Medical Sciences from 1979-1983. He left Memorial University in 1983 to become Dean of Biological Sciences at Guelph University until 1995. After retirement from Guelph he spent ten years as Executive Director at Canadian Federation of Biological Societies. During his career he was appointed member of the Medical Research Council, served on a number of the MRC (now CIHR) Grant panels, as well as, committees of the National Cancer institute and the Arthritis Society. He received numerous fellowships and was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1983. He had hundreds of publications and helped guide 50 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows over the years. During his wife's decade-long struggle with Alzheimer's he was a devoted caregiver and he became a member of the board of the Alzheimer's Society of Lanark county. Bruce had friends across the world and had a very close community in the town of Perth Ontario where he lived after retirement. He will be remembered by many, not just for his academic accomplishments, but his sincerity, his compassion and his ridiculous jokes. There was a Celebration of Life to honour and remember Bruce on Friday November 23rd, 2018 from 1:30 to 3:00 P.M. at the Blair & Son Funeral Home, 15 Gore St., W., Perth Ontario. At 1:30 P.M., family members and friends shared memories with all who attended. Those wishing were asked to consider a memorial donation to the Lanark County Alzheimer’s Society “Day Away Program”, 7 Sunset Blvd., Perth On K7H 0A1 (800-511-1911). www.blairandson.com

 

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