It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Bruce. He leaves to mourn two daughters, Kimiko and Sachiko, grandson Judah, sisters Alice (Ted) Tanaka, Violet, Mary (Tosh) Kitagawa and Rose, brother Richard, business partner Jim Kalsi, one niece, three nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his parents, Katsuyori and Kimiko, and a brother, Riyoichi.
Bruce was born October 1, 1944 in New Denver, BC, the site of one of many prison camps set up for Japanese Canadians by the Government of Canada in 1942. At the age of five he was freed and given citizenship. Bruce’s schooling began in Cardston, Alberta, continued on Salt Spring Island and ended at UBC.
After determining he had a knack for business, Bruce took a job as a traveling salesman with Hitachi Canada. Soon thereafter, he had opened his own store, Tom Tom Sound, on Logan Avenue in Langley, BC, which evolved into Beamriders on Fraser Highway; Bruce would eventually grow this business to six stores across the lower mainland. He sent his daughters around the world for a year after high school graduation and then through university.
Bruce was a generous, compassionate, caring person. He was always ready with a good joke, had a natural green thumb, was a natural musician, and held a deep love for animals. His family, friends, and those who came again and again to Beamriders to share a tall tale and a loud laugh with Bruce will miss this long-standing member of the Langley community.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at Henderson’s Funeral Home, 20786 Fraser Highway, Langley. Reception followed at Beamriders, 20202 Fraser Highway, Langley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Katsuyori and Kimiko Murakami Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o School District #64, 112 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C., V8K 2K3.