On Monday, December 2, 2019 as the winter storm hit the Southcoast, God peacefully took Bruce A. McCann, son of the late Elsie and James McCann, brother to the late Frank McCann, to heaven to be with his loving children Jennifer and Andrew and other family members. Bruce left behind his childhood friend, high school sweetheart, and wife of 38 loving and devoted years, Susan (Caron) McCann, son Ryan McCann and his wife Dana, daughter Caitlin McCann and her companion Alexandre Soares, brother Michael McCann and his wife Darrah, brothers and sisters-in-law, Debra Caron, Lynn Pires and husband Glenn, Cheryl Methia and husband John, twin brothers Eric and the late Edmond Caron, Michelle Debrosse and husband Randy, godchild Chad Souza, his nieces, Kendra, Erin, Jackie, Kirsten, Alexis, his nephews, Michael, Jacob, Tyler, Jordan, Justin, Jared, Chandler, Logan, and his pride and joy grandchildren, Giana, Alyssia, Kyden, and Khloé McCann.
Anyone who knew Bruce would know that he was an avid sports fan and participant. From an early age, Bruce loved playing sports playing SEYAA Little League, Pony League, Legion (in which they were zone 9 champions in 1975), Teener’s League and for Harry-o’s & Almeida Auto Supply baseball teams (men’s softball). He was known for his long ball, fastball and blocking the plate. In 1998 he chaperoned the Colt Palomino baseball team to the World Series where they advanced from North Carolina to Lafayette. In 2010 and 2011 Bruce carried the River Cats baseball team to the championships, both years winning at Brooklawn Park. In addition he coached several years with the Bay State Girls Softball League and was a generous sponsor. Bruce went on to sponsor the Little League boys in 2015 at Whaling City in which they acquired two championship trophies in 2016 and 2018.
Bruce was a character of heart and passion for the game always giving 110% effort. “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” As a New Bedford High School athlete of baseball, football and track and field, he was most honored as a sophomore to play as a center for the varsity football team in which most recently he was inducted into the New Bedford Gridiron Hall of Fame. Anyone who knew Bruce during high school and coaching knew him for ‘the forearm shiver’. After high school he coached SEYAA Midget Football in which he took the team to the Nationals winning the 1976 Championship. Bruce coached the Midget New Bedford Bears Pop Warner Football Team with his high school friends and was also a board member of the organization. Every Midget football team he coached, he took to the playoffs. In 1995 they were State Champions and in 2004 Division Champions. He also coached semi-pro football with the Whaling City Clippers winning back to back Super Bowls in 2007 and 2008 with the league’s best defense.
In his adult years he devoted 22 hard working years to Teledyne Rodney Metals and helped create the United Steel Workers of America Local 1357 of New Bedford in the late 1990’s. In 1999, Bruce ventured off to fulfill his dream of building his own business. He began McCann & Son’s Painting, Powerwashing and Deleading, doing numerous projects throughout New England. He was a participant of Paint Your Heart Out, Paint Your Soul Out and multiple community projects during his lifetime. Bruce was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and New Bedford Elks Lodge No. 73. Bruce enjoyed riding his four wheeler, talking your ear off, spending time with his beloved Siberian husky Noko, playing outside in the backyard with his grandchildren and most of all being around family, encouraging others, and giving back. His teams were the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Notre Dame, and the Boston Red Sox. “No good deed goes unnoticed” as he would say. He was an all-around devoted, loving, caring, and hardworking man.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday December 9th at 10 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday December 8th from 12-5 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that our community pays it forward each and every day as Bruce did. Show love, kindness and empathy to one another. Help someone out. Go out of your normal way to assist because it’s the right thing to do. They would like this, in lieu of flowers- because that’s what Bruce would do. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.