Dr. Bruno L. Jūrmalietis

Obituary for Dr. Bruno Ludvig Jūrmalietis, D.D.S. February 26, 1934 to June 10, 2020

JŪRMALIETIS, Dr. Bruno – Passed away suddenly but peacefully with family by his side at the Pembroke Regional Hospital on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at age 86.

Dr. Bruno Ludvig Jūrmalietis, D.D.S. of Petawawa, Ontario, beloved husband of Bettyanne Jūrmalietis (nee Rowe).  Father of Robert (wife Diane), Liane, and the late Heidi Fleury (husband Bert).  Grandfather of Morgan and Graham Jūrmalietis; and Tanner, Chloe, and Logan Fleury.  Great-grandfather of Morgan’s daughter Faith.  Brother of Silvija (husband Peter Parker).  Brother-in-law of Gerald (“Gerry”) Rowe (wife Joan).  Predeceased by parents Arvids and Lilija (“Lily”) Jūrmalietis (nee Krause); parents-in-law Lloyd and Erna Rowe (nee Silke); and daughter Heidi Fleury (nee Jūrmalietis).

Bruno was born on February 26, 1934 in Riga, Latvia to Arvids and Lilija Jūrmalietis.  His father was a successful businessman and also an elite athlete.  He was the Heavyweight Weightlifting champion and record holder of Latvia, and competed in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.  Bruno’s parents had a home in the capital city of Riga, and a summer estate in neighbouring Jūrmala on the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea.  Bruno experienced a wonderful childhood in Latvia, with lazy fun-filled summers, as a child should have. 

In 1944, with the impending Soviet invasion of Latvia, Bruno and his parents fled to Germany.  Soon after their arrival in Germany, Bruno’s sister Silvija was born.  The family endured the hardships of war, with the scarcity of food, basic necessities, etc.  Bruno developed a deep appreciation of many of the “everyday things”…and little things…that most people take for granted today. 

In 1948, the Jūrmalietis family immigrated to Canada and settled in Petawawa, Ontario.  Bruno received his early education in Latvia and Germany, and completed his high school education in Pembroke, Ontario.  He graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto.

Bruno loved practising dentistry and seeing his patients.  Continuing education was always a priority.  He attended the dental conventions in Toronto every year, took many courses, and was keen on having the latest state of the art equipment in his dental office.   

Bruno loved to fly, and owned numerous aircraft over the years.  He had flown his aircraft from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic Ocean, and the Caribbean.  His favourite fishing was for Arctic Char in the Ungava Bay district, to which he would always fly in his own aircraft, usually accompanied by other flying buddies in their planes.  Bruno was also one of the founders and the Vice-President of the former local commuter airline “Pem-Air”.

Bruno’s father played the piano and accordion, and Bruno learned to play the piano and accordion from him when he was a boy.  This love and talent for music continued with Bruno his entire life.  In high school he played the euphonium in the band, sang in a male quartet, and acted and sang in the lead role in two operettas.  He enjoyed attending musical productions and concerts.  He took his wife and children to many productions at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and attended various musical performance venues in Toronto when in the city for dental conventions.  Bruno was extremely musical and played his music with a special touch, as did his father Arvids on the piano and accordion, his sister Silvija on the piano, and other relatives on various instruments.  They made beautiful music as individuals and playing together.  There were many sing-alongs at family get-togethers, parties (Bruno was invited to many parties to play the accordion), and special occasions.  Bettyanne and Bruno would perform magnificent duos together with Bettyanne playing the piano and singing and Bruno playing the electric organ.  All three of Bruno’s children played the piano, as well as Robert the trumpet, euphonium, and accordion, Liane the violin, clarinet, and organ, and Heidi the violin and saxophone.  As children and teenagers, Bruno would play either the piano, electric organ, or accordion with the children playing other instruments together as a group in church, the Germania Club, and at various special functions.    

Bruno’s other interests (past and/or present) included boating, sailing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, down-hill skiing, swimming, football and track and field in high school, dancing (waltz, foxtrot, polka, etc.), photography, reading, current affairs, discussion and debate, telling jokes (he loved to laugh!), being a good sport and kidding around, the Kiwanis Club, the Germania Club, and travel.  He visited many countries around the world, and took many trips back to his native Latvia after it regained it’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.  He took many of his close family members at different times, and always visited with his Latvian Balodis cousins each time he went to Latvia.  He was fluent in Latvian, German, and English.

“Jūrmala” is Latvian for “seaside”.  The Latvian name “Jūrmalietis” (in English pronounced “YOOR-MAH-LEE-TIS”) means “seaside resident”.  Bruno always felt an affinity for the water, whether it was a sea, an ocean, a river, a lake, a stream, or a pond.  His home in Petawawa, since 1979 until his passing, was on a property he named “Grandview”, located on the Ottawa River with a magnificent view of the Laurentian Mountains.  So the meaning of his surname, “Jūrmalietis”, suited him well.

Growing up, Bruno liked to be active, for example hiking in the woods and swimming.  He found relaxation in nature as a youth, which continued for the rest of his life.  If he could not go outside, he loved to sit in a rocking chair in the house and gaze at the view of the Ottawa River and the Laurentian Mountains.  

The Jūrmalietis family has a tradition started by Bruno’s father, Arvids, of being an eagle.  Arvids had a favourite saying: “Fly like an eagle!  Fly high!”, which meant feel free, the sky is the limit, be adventurous, and confident at taking risks.  Arvids was the first “old eagle” in the family, and until he passed, Bruno was the last “old eagle” in the family.  Bruno was passionate about the eagle motif.  He had numerous carvings, paintings, etc. of eagles in his home, and he often talked about being “the old eagle”. 

Bruno had a tough side, and also a very soft, sentimental side.  Those who knew him well would see him get teary-eyed.  He could be firm, but he could also have a heart of gold.  The people who loved him will never forget the kindness and generosity he showed.  

Please listen to the attached music as an audio tribute to Bruno. It is the music in the slideshow, which is found when you scroll down after this audio tribute. 

My Way (sung by Frank Sinatra). This was one of Bruno’s favourite songs.

My Way (Sung by Frank Sinatra)

Manai dzimtenei (Latvian for “To My Homeland”). This was Bruno’s favourite Latvian song. It is a very popular, patriotic, sentimental song in Latvia. It was written when Latvia was occupied by the former Soviet Union, and represents Latvians' love of their culture and loyalty to their homeland of Latvia. This video was taken at the closing concert of a nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival. 

Manai dzimtenei (Latvian for “To My Homeland”)

Pūt, vējiņi! (Latvian for "Blow, Wind!") This is a cherished and favourite folk song in the Latvian culture that is often sung at the end of important events, celebrations, and get-togethers. It is a very emotional song, and is sung with a deeply heartfelt spirit reflecting "farewell, so very sad to leave you...until we meet again...". The singers in this video are wearing traditional Latvian folk costumes from different regions in Latvia. 

Pūt, vējiņi! (Latvian for “Blow, Wind!”)

Autumn Leaves (sung by Eva Cassidy). Bruno’s favourite season was autumn. He loved the colours of the leaves. He also really liked the song "Autumn Leaves". This is the original acoustic version sung by Eva Cassidy.  

Autumn Leaves (sung by Eva Cassidy)

Autumn Leaves (sung by Eva Cassidy and mixed with the London Symphony Orchestra). The video is beautiful and poignant. This version is not in the slideshow. 

Autumn Leaves (sung by Eva Cassidy and mixed with the London Symphony Orchestra)

Par to (Raudāja māte...) – (Latvian for “About it (Crying mother ...)”. This was one of Bruno’s favourite songs. He always got teary-eyed when he heard it. It’s about the sadness of life not being infinite. The song is sung by an adult (Normunds Rutulis) and a child (Krista Teivāne), representing the passing of time in one's life from childhood onwards. 

Normunds Rutulis: Par to (Raudāja māte)

Latvian lyrics of "Par to" with the meaning "translated" to English. 

VERSE 1

Par to, ka viļņi liedagā tā kā atmiņas krīt (About the fact that the waves sink as memories fall)

Par to, ka vēju modinās saule vientuļa rīt (About the fact that the wind will wake up the sun alone tomorrow)

Par to, ka nepārnāks tas, kurš aizgājis (About the fact that the one who has passed will not come back)

Par to, ka bezgalīgas ir tikai debesis (About the fact that only the sky is infinite)

REFRAIN

Raudāja māte, raudāja meita (The mother cried, the daughter cried)

Raudāja mēness debesīs (The moon cried in the sky)

Raudāja māte, raudāja meita (The mother cried, the daughter cried)

Dzīve ir gara, mūžs ir īss (Life is long, life is short)

Raudāja māte, raudāja meita (The mother cried, the daughter cried)

Raudāja mēness debesīs (The moon cried in the sky) 

VERSE 2

Par to, ka ziedi ābelē tā kā jukuši zied (About the fact that the flowers on the apple trees bloom like crazy)

Par to, ka laika rādītājs nemāk atpakaļ iet (About the fact that the timeline does not know how to go back)

Par to, ka nepārnāks tas, kurš aizgājis (About the fact that the one who has passed will not come back)

Par to, ka bezgalīgas ir tikai debesis (About the fact that only the sky is infinite) 

REFRAIN

VERSE 3

Par to, ka lietus tīrumā cauru vasaru līst (About the fact that it rains in the fields all summer long)

Par to, ka ziema gara ir, saules ceļš ir tik īss (About the fact that because the winter is long, the path of the sun is so short)

Par to, ka nepārnāks tas, kurš aizgājis (About the fact that the one who has passed will not come back)

Par to, ka bezgalīgas ir tikai debesis (About the fact that only the sky is infinite)

REFRAIN 

Cremation has taken place.  Online condolences are available at www.mdbfuneralhome.com.