Obituary for Bruce George Guilbault
Bruce Guilbault was born on September 27, 1945 in the elevator on the way up to the labor and delivery floor at Southbridge Memorial Hospital (Massachusetts). He was the oops baby of Edmund and Irene Guilbault, the beloved brother of Pauline Guilbault Martin, who was already 15 when he was born.
He attended Bentley College, where, as sports editor of the college paper, he interviewed Mohammed Ali in 1964, when Ali was in Boston for a match. Ali agreed to meet the young reporter after a warm-up workout, and he appeared in the buff after a shower for the interview. (Bruce was fully clothed).
After graduating from Bentley with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, Bruce worked for Ernst & Ernst while preparing for and passing the CPA exam. Bruce was assigned to the health care team, and he participated in the first audits of Medicare cost reports (on the side of the government). After leaving E&E, he switched over to the provider side, and had a long career, representing health care facilities in their efforts to receive all the monies to which they were legally entitled for caring for Medicaid and Medicare patients. His last forty years were spent as President of Health Care Resources in New Jersey, as a consultant in reimbursement issues for nursing facilities.
Bruce married Nancy Bachand in 1969, and that marriage produced three children: Renee Roberson, Christopher Guilbault and Jonathan Guilbault. With the birth of the first granddaughter, Bruce became Bumpy to six granddaughters and a grandson by marriage: Jessica Schoener, Samantha Stephens, Greg Stephens, Niki Roberson, Anna Guilbault, Cassie Guilbault and Emma Guilbault.
Bumpy was probably his proudest and best role. He sat through dance recitals and kindergarten graduations. He coached little league and soccer (even though he knew nothing about soccer). He babysat toddlers and accompanied trips to Sesame Place and watched the Girl Scouts march in parades. He taught them the best (and according to him, only) way of tearing up cardboard. He loved all his children and grandchildren tremendously.
In addition to family, he loved bourbon, cigars, bacon, and Kitty (Blissit), the second wife. He was interested in almost anything, from civil war battlefields to trains; from Charles Dickens to art museums or Broadway plays. He loved to bike in the Meadows, and after retirement, he played tennis with scores of daytime women. He was a master gluer, a seeker of back roads, and a lover of poetry. He loved his Red Sox and his Patriots and Kitty’s Bulldogs and took great joy in teasing his friends who cheered for lesser teams. He was so damn much fun.
Unfortunately, an aggressive cancer took him far too early. We all thought Bruce would live forever, but he died on July 8, 2020. There are no services due to Covid restrictions, but in the future, when we can, there will be a party to eat and drink and celebrate his life. If the meanwhile, raise a toast to Bruce and laugh at the happy memories.
If desired, please donate to a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the respectful care and direction of Ruby Memorial Funeral Home of North Brunswick, NJ. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.rubymemorialhome.com
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
Ruby Memorial, as instructed by the North Brunswick Mayor’s Office and the North Brunswick Office of Emergency Management along with our Governor of New Jersey, in order to protect the families we serve, our staff and their families and the local and global community as a whole has implemented many restrictions involving public services. Thank you for all of your patience during this difficult time. We will keep you updated day by day as restrictions are applied.
He attended Bentley College, where, as sports editor of the college paper, he interviewed Mohammed Ali in 1964, when Ali was in Boston for a match. Ali agreed to meet the young reporter after a warm-up workout, and he appeared in the buff after a shower for the interview. (Bruce was fully clothed).
After graduating from Bentley with a Bachelor’s in Accounting, Bruce worked for Ernst & Ernst while preparing for and passing the CPA exam. Bruce was assigned to the health care team, and he participated in the first audits of Medicare cost reports (on the side of the government). After leaving E&E, he switched over to the provider side, and had a long career, representing health care facilities in their efforts to receive all the monies to which they were legally entitled for caring for Medicaid and Medicare patients. His last forty years were spent as President of Health Care Resources in New Jersey, as a consultant in reimbursement issues for nursing facilities.
Bruce married Nancy Bachand in 1969, and that marriage produced three children: Renee Roberson, Christopher Guilbault and Jonathan Guilbault. With the birth of the first granddaughter, Bruce became Bumpy to six granddaughters and a grandson by marriage: Jessica Schoener, Samantha Stephens, Greg Stephens, Niki Roberson, Anna Guilbault, Cassie Guilbault and Emma Guilbault.
Bumpy was probably his proudest and best role. He sat through dance recitals and kindergarten graduations. He coached little league and soccer (even though he knew nothing about soccer). He babysat toddlers and accompanied trips to Sesame Place and watched the Girl Scouts march in parades. He taught them the best (and according to him, only) way of tearing up cardboard. He loved all his children and grandchildren tremendously.
In addition to family, he loved bourbon, cigars, bacon, and Kitty (Blissit), the second wife. He was interested in almost anything, from civil war battlefields to trains; from Charles Dickens to art museums or Broadway plays. He loved to bike in the Meadows, and after retirement, he played tennis with scores of daytime women. He was a master gluer, a seeker of back roads, and a lover of poetry. He loved his Red Sox and his Patriots and Kitty’s Bulldogs and took great joy in teasing his friends who cheered for lesser teams. He was so damn much fun.
Unfortunately, an aggressive cancer took him far too early. We all thought Bruce would live forever, but he died on July 8, 2020. There are no services due to Covid restrictions, but in the future, when we can, there will be a party to eat and drink and celebrate his life. If the meanwhile, raise a toast to Bruce and laugh at the happy memories.
If desired, please donate to a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the respectful care and direction of Ruby Memorial Funeral Home of North Brunswick, NJ. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.rubymemorialhome.com
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
Ruby Memorial, as instructed by the North Brunswick Mayor’s Office and the North Brunswick Office of Emergency Management along with our Governor of New Jersey, in order to protect the families we serve, our staff and their families and the local and global community as a whole has implemented many restrictions involving public services. Thank you for all of your patience during this difficult time. We will keep you updated day by day as restrictions are applied.