"Dr. Letourneau was a wonderful, kind and caring person. I am glad I knew him during my Navy career."
In loving memory of
Bruce Thomas Letourneau
June 25, 1944 - April 2, 2004
Middletown, - Bruce Thomas Letourneau, 59, of 18 J.H. Dwyer Drive Middletown, died Friday, April 2, 2004 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Middletown, RI. He was the husband of the late Diane Moltenbrey Letourneau. Born in Montague, MA on Jun. 25, 1944, he was the son of the late Herman and the late Bertha Dubie Letourneau. Dr. Letourneau graduated from the Greenfield Community College School of Nursing in 1972, He went onto the University of Massachusetts to receive his BS in Nursing. Dr. Letourneau then graduated from the University of New England in 1984 receiving his medical degree, he served his internship at the Parkview Osteopathic Hospital until 1985. Dr. Letourneau then graduated from the Portsmouth Naval Hospital with his Degree in Psychiatry in 1993. Dr. Letourneau practiced as a general medical officer at the Lester Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, he went onto practice at the 12th Marines 2nd Marine Division as a Battalion Surgeon in Camp Butler, Okinowa, Japan. Dr. Letourneau returned to the United States in 1988 to the Meprs Station in Springfield, MA, he then joined the staff at the Portsmouth Naval Station in Portsmouth, Virginia as a Psychiatric resident then part of the Psychiatric staff. Dr. Letourneau moved to Newport, RI, practicing at the Newport Naval Hospital as Head of the Mental Health Department. Dr. Letourneau had been a medic in the US Navy, serving during the Vietnam Era. Dr. Letourneau most recently practiced at the Halo Psychiatric Clinic in Cranston.He was a communicant of St. Lucy?s Church were he served as a Eucharistic Minister.Dr. Letourneau was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and he also raised money for the multiple Sclerosis Foundation by riding his bike. He is survived by a son Eric Weston Letourneau, a daughter Stephanie Erin Letourneau his mother In Law Jennie Moltenbrey all at home in Middletown, RI, 4 brothers Edward H. Letourneau of Greenfield, MA, Robert H. Letourneau of Turners Falls, MA, Brian J. Letourneau of Bernardston, MA, Dean C. Letourneau of Turners Falls, MA, a sister Sandra K. Dube of West Springfield, MA.He was also brother of the late William A. Letourneau and Herman Letourneau Jr.Funeral Services will be held Thursday, Apr. 8, at 8:00 AM from the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport with a Rite of Christian Burial at 9:00 AM in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be in Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, RI. Donations in his memory may be made to the charity of donor?s choice.
Tributes
"A great man, doctor, and friend. I think of him frequently."
"It's been almost a year since Dr. Letourneau's passing, a day I will never forget for two reasons, my oldest son arrived at the scene of the accident just minutes after it happened & my youngest sons birthday is the following day. I miss him terribly & will always rememeber his absolute joy in the most simple of things. His love for butterflies has stayed with me & whenever I see one I automatically think of him. His smile, soft voice, his always wanting to do something 'daring' for his next birthday. I truly feel blessed for having had the opportunity to know such a wonderful man."
"This is way overdue. to family this world was never good enough for one as beautifull as your father. Diane"
"5 months have gone by since you left us. You are still in my thoughts and prayers.It seems like only yesterday since you imparted your words of wisdom and hearty laughter when much needed."
"4/12 have gone by, yet it seems like it was only yesterday that we talked and laughed together.You were the driving force in my life. I miss you dreadfully. God Bless you."
""Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:3-4 I had the privilege of training with Bruce in the psychiatry residency at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA from 1988 to 1991. Bruce lost his beloved wife just before reporting to the program and had young Eric and Stephanie to raise with the help of his mother-in-law, and he amazed me with his resilience and perseverance as he continued on with what proved to be a grueling residency. I can only imagine the burden he carried, yet he was always caring and concerned about those around him. His patients never had a better advocate. Today, I work in a community mental health center in rural Texas where there are more needs than time or resources to meet them, but I am encouraged by the testimonies to Bruce's caring and determined spirit and his willingness to take the time needed to meet the needs at hand. Bruce was never one to let the "system" get in the way of doing what needed to be done. Eric,Stephanie, and Jennie will be in our prayers, as well as Bruce's family and his "family" of people he cared for. Tim & Gayle Furlong Family"
"Dear Dr. Letourneau, You came into my life at a critical point. You gave me the courage, skills and understanding to carry on. I want to thank you, as you know, from the bottom of my heart, for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit with me in court. It meant a lot. I'll never forget it. Love Erin"
"it so sad to know that we can never see you again.to know dr. letourneau was a blessing and it self. you will truly be missed, my family is truly crushed by your passing. you will always be remembered and loved and always in our hearts ."
"I met Bruce in Portsmouth,VA. He and my husband trained in psychatry and were on staff together. I am just aware of his passing. He and Jenny and the kids were like extended family to us. We are blessed to have known him. Our deepest sympathy to his family. Pat, Ty, Jelani and Chloe Porter"
"The Staff at Fleet Bank in North Kingstown wish to send our condolences to the family of Bruce. He was one of our best customers and a fine man. We enjoyed seving him and will miss his visits to our bank. He bought us coffee and donuts on several occasions. With sympathy."
"I am deeply saddened over the loss of Dr.Letourneau.He has been my Dr. for the last year.After each session he would give me a big hug, and tell me i would be ok. Not many Dr's cared like he did. He was such a gentle soul. I am a better person for knowing him.We will all miss him. My sypathies go out to his family. I believe he is in a better place now. Robin Cogswell"
"I am a school social worker in the North Kingstown RI school department where Dr. Letourneau had a private practice...He was a caring psychiatrist to many of the students and families I worked with.He always gave them all of the 'time' they needed with him, often an hour appointment...He was available if I needed to talk to him about a refferal....My own family also knew him because he was the psychiatrist for our parents...My father was a retired naval officer and both of my parents have dementia...My father has passed away but Dr. Letourneau got special priveledges to see my mother in her nursing home when it became difficult to bring her to his office. He had great respect for my parents and he helped me to keep my sanity in dealing with their care.He will be truly missed by those families he helped thru the North Kingstown school department and of course by my family .My prayers are with his family and children. I am fortunate to have known him and his memory will always be with me."
"Dr. Letourneau touched my life like no one else during my lifetime. I thank God for this gift. For this, he will forever be in my prayers."
"To Dr. Letourneau's family I have known the doctor for a few years and am so sorry to hear of Dr. Letourneau's passing. He was very special. My prayers and thoughts are with you. I will pray for him. He told me how much he loved his butterflies and to remind us all at Opportunities Unlimited I have plans to plant a butterfly bush in our yard to remind me of him and how good he made me feel. dedra mason"
"I would like to offer my sincerest and deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Letourneau. He has been my doctor for the past 5 years and I have never met a more caring ,spiritual and intelligent professional.I considered him a friend with whom I could confide in.I shall miss him deeply.He will be forever in my thoughts and prayers. God chose a special person when he took him into his fold. May God Bless you all."
"God has surely found an angel in receiving Dr. Bruce Letourneau into his fold. He was my psychiatrist for many years & I grew to love & respect him deeply. He will forever be in my thoughts. My deepest sympathy & prayers go out to all of his family & friends. The world has indeed lost a wonderful caring person."
"I have worked with Dr Letourneau since he started at Kent Hospital. He was more than a colleague, he was a friend. He helped me by always being there to listen and share a laugh. He was a great Doctor, great humanitarian but mostly a great friend. He will be surely missed by all, especially those who's lives he touched."
"I am a Social Worker for the State of RI and have referred many patients to Dr. Letourneau over the years. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful doctor. Nobody in RI accepts Medical Assistance because it doesn't pay "enough", but Dr. Letourneau accepted it readily. He was truely one of a kind in his profession. He really had a gift for working with people with disabilities, treating them with dignity and respect as he did everyone else. He was a truely great man and will be dearly missed."
"To Dr. Letourneau's family my heart and prayers go out to you. He was a kind,loving man and a great doctor. He was more than a doctor. He was a friend. His family must be so proud of him. I know I am. He is one of the few that was able to relate spiritually to a patient. He will be sadly missed. His contributions to this world will be long remembered. God bless his family. Julie Silva"
"I worked at the hospital with Dr. Letourneau and he also helped me at a time when I suffered from depression. He was compassionate and a joy to know. He will be missed here on this earth for the kind soul that he was."
"I worked at the Naval Clinic with Dr. Letourneau. I can unequivocally state that he made the world a better place. Please know that I will remember him and all of you in my prayers."
"The Behavorial Health Unit at Newport Hospital has lost a wonderful friend as well as a compasionate, caring physician. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad and difficult time."