Carlo Bruni

Carlo Bruni, M.D., died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at his residence at Sunrise Assisted Living in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 90 years old.

Dr. Bruni was born on April 2, 1916, in Perugia, Italy, the son of Iacopo and Oliva Bruni.

He completed all of his schooling in Perugia, culminating in graduation from the Medical School of the University of Perugia in 1941. Upon completion of his training, he joined the staff of the hospital of the University of Perugia as a surgeon, where he practiced for one year before volunteering for the Italian Army. As a physician in the frontline of Mussolini's army, he traveled to North Africa in October of 1942, where he was captured and made prisoner by the Allied Forces' Eighth Army, led by Lieutenant General Bernard Law Montgomery. He was held in Scotland as a British prisoner of war from April of 1943, until August of 1946.

After his release, he returned to Italy to resume his position at the Hospital of Perugia. While an instructor at its medical school, he met Maria Alberta Sertori, a medical student whom he would later marry. In the 1950's he embarked on his career as a researcher. After a short stay at the Royal Hospital in London, England, he came to the United States in 1954 as a Fulbright Grant recipient, which allowed him to conduct research at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Afterwards, he joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now Rockefeller University) in New York, New York, where he became one of the pioneers in the use of electron microscopy for the study of cell structure.

In 1961, he moved to the Biological Laboratories at Harvard University. He married Maria Alberta Sertori, who joined him from Perugia, and started a family, with daughters, Elizabeth and Claire. In 1967, he joined the staff of the Medical School of the University of Virginia in the Department of Pathology, and remained on the faculty of that medical school until June 30, 1986, when he retired as Professor Emeritus from the Department of Neuroscience.

In his retirement years, he had many new experiences. He became a United States citizen in a naturalization ceremony at Monticello on July 4, 1987, and he traveled to many parts of the world, including France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the great parks of America, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. He resided in Charlottesville, Virginia for over 35 years, where he enjoyed cycling, music, family and friendships, and where he satisfied his never-ending quest for knowledge. He eventually moved to Raleigh to be closer to family, where he lived for two years.

Dr. Bruni was preceded in death by his parents; his sister; and by his wife of 22 years, Maria Alberta, on December 27, 1982.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Esposito, and her husband, Edward, of Brooklyn, New York; his daughter, Claire Casey, and her husband, Raynor, of Raleigh, North Carolina; grandchildren, Courtney Casey, Noah Casey, and Lila Casey.

The family wishes to thank the loving, caring staff of Sunrise Assisted Living in Raleigh, North Carolina and Hospice of Wake County, who provided him with exceptional care.

A graveside funeral service will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2007, at Riverview Cemetery in Charlottesville, Virginia, with Father Dominic Langevin officiating.

There will be no scheduled visitation, but friends are welcome to come by the funeral home to view Carlo and sign the register.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wake County Medical Society Alliance, for the benefit of Hospice of Wake County WCMSA, 2500 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 312, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.

Hill and Wood Funeral Home of Charlottesville, Virginia is in charge of arrangements.