Bruce Ellsworth RIP

[comick1]

RIP, Bruce. You left us far too soon, buddy.

 

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/Home/4/1/73/1013?articleID=134555&fb_action_ids=10200620373064675&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210200620373064675%22%3A144627745720940%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200620373064675%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

[comick1]

I'm sure a number of people will recall Bruce Ellsworth, but a lot of folks know him as the guy that discovered the Salida Collection of DC war (and a couple other labels and genres). Here's one:

 

 

and another:

 

 

Thanks for the great books, Brucie!

[HeyMoe]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

[mysterio]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

[comick1]

I'm not sure what the exact health details were for Bruce, but I know he lived with diabetes for many years. As I recall, he was living in Hawaii for the last few years. Saw him one last time at SD Comic-Con 2011. He came to the war comics dinner and hung out with all the Big-5 collectors. He'd put on a bunch of weight and had a prosthesis for the lower part of one of his legs. Was sorta hoping he had it all under control. Brucie was a war comics lunatic like few other people and that Salida collection is one of the single coolest finds ever!

[Calamerica]

[thirdgreenham]

I sat beside Bruce at that 2011 San Diego War Comics dinner. Had a great chat with him. Very interesting guy and so sad to read of his passing.

 

My condolences to his family and friends.

 

Andy

[Alika-migration]

I was fortunate to know Bruce in his final few years when he moved to Maui (after being so cruelly kicked out of Oz). It's awesome to see all the people posting here who Bruce has known and touched. He really was a happy guy, who loved his comics. In the time I knew him Bruce's health was already failing. He was aware of it, but didn't shy from it. He spent his time collecting more and more comics, among other fine like vinyl, knives, movie and rock posters, the list goes on. We got to hang out a bit, and he told me all the stories about his various collections and the friends he had found them with. He loved reveling over the Salida collection. I even got to hunt for a couple of collections in Hawaii with him. It truly was a blessing to meet Bruce.

 

When he passed, his wife Melody (whom he loved dearly) held a small service on the beach below his house. I swam his ashes out into the break and spread them in the surf. If any of you are ever on Maui and want to hang out with Bruce again, the beach is called "Sand piles" located directly below Oceanview Estates in Waiehu.

[porky]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

 

yeah. much better to get bankrupted by medical costs.

[Mad Titan]

I'm not sure what the exact health details were for Bruce, but I know he lived with diabetes for many years. As I recall, he was living in Hawaii for the last few years. Saw him one last time at SD Comic-Con 2011. He came to the war comics dinner and hung out with all the Big-5 collectors. He'd put on a bunch of weight and had a prosthesis for the lower part of one of his legs. Was sorta hoping he had it all under control. Brucie was a war comics lunatic like few other people and that Salida collection is one of the single coolest finds ever!

 

Wow I live in Hawaii and I totally missed!

 

Bruce Ellsworth

 

Last time I saw Bruce was at a collectors show last year. He was an appraiser at the show for comics and other stuff. Sad, he was the only reason I went to the show. I always wondered how he became an advisor for Overstreet.

 

R.I.P. Bruce!

[comicwiz]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

So sorry to hear about this. I knew Australia had one of the harshest immigration policies, but if what you shared really happened, it incenses me to think Australia's health care policies caused him to receive substandard medical care. This sounds like a truly uncivilized part of the world.

[comicwiz]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

 

Please. Don't broad brushstroke the Australian decision to ration medical care and determine people "economic burdens" as anything typical of government run health care systems. This is so far from the norm that it's neanderthalic and would be the exception rather than the rule.

[Tomega]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

 

Please. Don't broad brushstroke the Australian decision to ration medical care and determine people "economic burdens" as anything typical of government run health care systems. This is so far from the norm that it's neanderthalic and would be the exception rather than the rule.

 

Yeah, why show a specific, publicized common event as typical. Nothing like that ever goes on. How is the wait times in Canada? Have they got it down to less 10 weeks between the time an in pain patient sees a specialist and the time they are able to receive care. I heard some really good areas of Canada are down to 8 weeks. Not that it is rationing or using a broad brushstroke, I am sure is nothing typical of a government run health care system.

[Ares]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

 

Please. Don't broad brushstroke the Australian decision to ration medical care and determine people "economic burdens" as anything typical of government run health care systems. This is so far from the norm that it's neanderthalic and would be the exception rather than the rule.

 

Yeah, why show a specific, publicized common event as typical. Nothing like that ever goes on. How is the wait times in Canada? Have they got it down to less 10 weeks between the time an in pain patient sees a specialist and the time they are able to receive care. I heard some really good areas of Canada are down to 8 weeks. Not that it is rationing or using a broad brushstroke, I am sure is nothing typical of a government run health care system.

 

When my mom had a stroke she was admited to hospital same day and had her MRI and Cat scans ASAP. That is typical for needy cases here

[Tomega]

I first spoke with Bruce about seven years ago when he moved to Brisbane. I noticed that his photo in the Overstreet advisors section had an Australian address and phone number!

I spoke to him several times, but lost contact a year or so after he had, if I remember correctly, a kidney tranplant.

 

Two of the most interesting things he told me was that he nearly had first shot at the Mile High collection, and he had in his possesion two of the Superman costumes used by George Reeves in the TV show. (His uncle(?) being Whitney Ellsworth.)

 

About two years ago I tried to make contact again. I somehow stubled on his name on a petition web site. It seemed that the Australian government, in all its compassion, were trying to deport him!!

Why?

This from the website:

"His permanent resident visa application has failed due to health condition causing economic burden, despite the fact his wife is employed at a Queensland Hospital as a doctor."

 

He was considered an "economic burden".

Governments...what compasionate people they in' are!!

 

My one and only correspondence with someone closely tied to comic book history.

 

The joys of government run health care.

 

Please. Don't broad brushstroke the Australian decision to ration medical care and determine people "economic burdens" as anything typical of government run health care systems. This is so far from the norm that it's neanderthalic and would be the exception rather than the rule.

 

Yeah, why show a specific, publicized common event as typical. Nothing like that ever goes on. How is the wait times in Canada? Have they got it down to less 10 weeks between the time an in pain patient sees a specialist and the time they are able to receive care. I heard some really good areas of Canada are down to 8 weeks. Not that it is rationing or using a broad brushstroke, I am sure is nothing typical of a government run health care system.

 

When my mom had a stroke she was admited to hospital same day and had her MRI and Cat scans ASAP. That is typical for needy cases here

 

Because they deemed it as an emergency.

 

But, before this degrades into a thread it should not be -

 

God speed Bruce.