John Bruce Motta
May 26, 1928 - October 20, 2018
Funeral Details: November 9, 2018 The gathering Room of the Mill Creek Care Centre
John Bruce Motta (1928-2018)
Of Barrie, Ontario passed away on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 at Mill Creek Care Center, after a brief illness. Bruce was the oldest son of John Robert Motta and Florence Worth Motta. He was predeceased by his brother Douglas Motta (Elinor). He leaves loving wife Roberta (nee Lake), sons Robert (Sephine Bartley), Richard & Steven (Mary Abel) and daughter Leslie (Ray Niepage) and his grandchildren Cameron & Frances Motta, Brian & Erin Niepage and Kyle Morris.
Bruce was a Moose Jaw kid, a Revelstoke punk, a bush surveyor, a U of S engineer, a GE marketing man, an entrepreneur and a public servant in trade & foreign affairs capacities. During his life Bruce exemplified passion, exploration and generosity.
His passions spanned music, the outdoors and sports. He was a golfer, skier and a lifelong member of “Regina Rider Nation” before the team became Saskatchewan’s and turned green. He brought people together with the smallest excuses for the best parties. The most recent being his 90th birthday in May. His musical tastes spanned Glen Miller to Corb Lund.
His thirst for exploration was boundless. He traveled by motorcycle and sidecar through Europe shortly after World War 2, to Scotland to start a business, around the world as a trade commissioner, then to foreign service residencies in Atlanta and Port of Spain, Trinidad. Despite surviving a commercial plane crash in in South America, his globetrotting, with Roberta at his side, accelerated in retirement. Later in life, cruising with Grampa became a childhood highlight for the lucky.
As a husband, father, neighbour and colleague Bruce was a generous man. He was married for 64 years, raised four successful kids, spoiled grandchildren, pitched-in on neighbourhood projects, mentored junior staff and volunteered through Rotary, Kiwanis and Golden K.
A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held on Friday, Nov 9th at 2:00pm in the Gathering Room of the Mill Creek Care Center at 286 Hurst Drive, Barrie, Ontario. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) at www.cnib.ca
Stephen Tapp
Posted on: Wednesday, October 24, 2018Extending our deepest sympathy to the entire Motta Family. Thinking of you at this difficult time. May you have comfort knowing that John was no doubt a very special and accomplished man. A fitting tribute to a life well lived. Stephen and April Tapp
john bell
Posted on: Monday, June 3, 2019Bruce was a great colleague and i recall with great fondness our many conversations over the years, John Bell
Waine McQuinn
Posted on: Monday, June 3, 2019Bruce was one of the good ones. His vast experience and abundant congeniality made him a great representative of Canada
victor lotto
Posted on: Tuesday, June 4, 2019Belated condolences to Roberta and family. I valued Bruce’s friendship and admired his great work ethic and sense of humour. He is certainly missed.