1968-2023

Passed away on October 10, 2023 at Sunnybrook Hospital following a brave journey with glioblastoma (brain cancer).

Jim, a Christmas baby, was born to Jane and Joseph Rueckert in Bronxville, New York 54 years ago.

When he was three years old, the family emigrated to Canada and settled in Scarborough. Jim attended Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute and went on to earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Applied Studies Co-op from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto.

On a sunny summer day 28 years ago, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer (nee Blackwell), and together they built a wonderful life together in Pickering.

Soon, their daughters Miranda and Oriana came along to complete their family and bring a new sense of pride to their world.

Jim was a passionate educator who inspired students to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones while working together to achieve greatness.

He taught at Coppard Glen Public School and involved all intermediate students in his successful music program. He then taught music and career studies at Bur Oak Secondary School until his diagnosis in the spring of 2022. Jim also loved sharing his passions with his family. Jim is survived by the loves of his life: his adored wife of 28 years, Jennifer, and his treasured daughters, Miranda and Oriana.

Also surviving Jim are his mother Jane Rolleston Rueckert, his sister Joy (Eddy), Jennifer’s parents Gord and Anneke, his brother-in-law Kevin (Colleen), and his niece and nephews Andrew, Ryan, Katy, Alex and Colton.

Jim is preceded in death by his father, Joseph James Rueckert. Jim’s family is sincerely grateful for the compassionate and thoughtful nurses, doctors, and staff of Sunnybrook Hospital and the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation.

The family will receive visitors at McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Road, Ajax on Saturday October 21, 2023, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Sunday, October 22, 2023, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, with a Celebration of Life immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following organizations: In Honour or Memory: Donate Now - Sunnybrook Foundation and use the drop-down menu to select the designation as the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research or the Odette Cancer Centre.