Jeffrey Bruce Bunce

Jeffrey Bruce Bunce, 71--father, husband, companion, firefighter-paramedic, deadhead.

Jeff grew up in Berlin, CT with his parents Graeme H. Bunce and Beverly Durity Bunce, his brother James Bunce, and his sister Rebecca Bunce Connell. The 1970s irrevocably shaped Jeff, like so many twenty somethings growing up in that decade. He loved listening to the Grateful Dead, hanging out with his German shepherd-wolf, Darkstar, and smoking a good joint. He also was adamantly opposed to the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon, and anything or anyone he viewed as part of the establishment. He was given amnesty under President Ford and subsequently took a job as an orderly at a hospital. He got to know a patient at the hospital who was in an iron lung. The doctors and nurses were verbally abusive and neglectful towards the patient, and Jeff spoke up on his behalf but was ignored. Jeff, on ethical principles, left that job and lost his amnesty. Jeff was irreverent, stubborn, and even at times crass, but he was principled. The 1970s haunted him for the remainder of his life.

He met his future wife, Rebecca Gens, of Centerville, MA, at Whitehall Manor where they were both nurses aides. They fell in love and married in 1978. Jeff opened Rebecca’s eyes to many new activities such as camping and hiking. Together, they had two children, Matthew (Bunce) Kim of Hardwick, MA and Hillary (Bunce) Green of Amarillo, TX. Jeff’s children loved spending time with their father: camping, hiking, cruising around town with the windows down listening to Jeff’s music which eventually became known as classic rock. Rebecca, Matthew, and Hillary will remember him for his cooking elaborate dinners, his grilling freshly caught fish, his taking his family to Red Sox games and to Chatham A’s games, his taking his family to dig for clams early in the morning, and his wicked sense of humor. Hillary will remember him most for their time together fishing. Jeff also leaves behind his two grandchildren, James Bunce and Lillian Bunce-Green. They will remember him for being a loving grandfather. Along with his family, Jeff also leaves behind his companion Kim Hunter of Gloucester, MA and her family who considered Jeff a member of their own family.

Jeff was a dedicated firefighter and paramedic both in Chatham and in Boston. He took his job seriously and loved being a public servant. Going through a scrap book recently, he and his family reread letters of gratitude written by those people whose lives he saved on scene and in the ambulance. He was known among his colleagues and among the elderly crowd for starting a great IV. Jeff even delivered a couple of babies and one of those deliveries was reported on in The National Enquirer! His family was always proud of him and will continue to brag about his accomplishments.

Services are pending. Please send donations to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or a non-profit organization of your choice.