Vincent Peter Bruno

Vincent Peter Bruno October 13, 1910 ~ April 26, 2006 MONTEREY - Vince Bruno, died peacefully at Hospice Westland House on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, surrounded by family. He was born 95 years ago in Pittsburg, CA where he quit school at age 12 to help his father as a commercial fisherman. This became his livelihood and he fished for 72 years for sardines and salmon from the Canadian to the Mexican borders, the Alaskan waters and the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Vince supplemented the family income by coming to Monterey, living with his grandmother, and caddying at Pebble Beach and the Old Del Monte golf courses. This earned him the nickname of loopy. It was during these visits that he met the love of his life, Angelina Riso. They were married February 5, 1939, at San Carols Cathedral and recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. This love and commitment to each other was always apparent and they showed their devotion to each other by renewing their wedding vows on their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. Vince loved to play golf and this passion led him to volunteer as a golf coach for the then Catholic Junipero High School during the 1960s. He was also an avid duck hunter and enjoyed many days of hunting with his sons, grandsons and other family and friends. Before each duck season, he would gather everyone's ducks from the previous season and work days on preparing them for his annual duck BBQ for family and friends. Those of us lucky enough to have been to any of those will never forget Vince's love of cooking and family. Vince was a wonderful cook and we will never be able to duplicate the fabulous recipes he held in his head. In his later years when Vince could no longer golf or hunt, he took up bocce, which he really loved and looked forward to his daily trips to join his friends at the bocce courts in Monterey. When he could no longer play, he still wanted to go and just sit and watch. Vince was a member of Knights of Columbus, Alaska Fisherman's Union, Festa Italia Santa Rosalia (were he had served as Grand Marshall), Monterey Men's Bocce Club, San Carlos Cathedral, and the Italian Catholic Federation #36 (where he had served as 2nd Vice President). As a member of the ICF, Vince worked many years in the kitchen for the organization's popular Lenten dinners. Vince was preceded in death by his parents Pietro and Mary (Balesteri); sister, Jenny Di Mercurio (Pittsburg), and brothers, Mike, Neno and Gus (97, who passed only 3 weeks earlier) all of Monterey. Vince is survived by his loving wife Angie; sons, Peter (Carol) of Monterey and Jan (Mary) of Salinas and six grandsons: Mike (Maria) of Carmel Valley, Matt of Monterey, Peter, Jr. (Stephanie) of Pacific Grove, Vince (Las Vegas), John (Seaside) and Christopher (Salinas) and six great grandchildren: Michael, Jr., Vinnie, Melissa, Victoria, Haley and Taylor. Surviving sisters are Angie Youldon of Pleasanton, Rose Riso of Monterey, Marie Di Augustino of Pittsburg and many nieces and nephews. Vince was a good and gentle man with never a negative word against anyone. He will be deeply missed. Visitation will be Monday, May 1, 2006 from 5-7pm at Mission Mortuary with the Vigil starting at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30am on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at San Carlos Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the building fund at San Carlos Cathedral or Hospice Westland House, 100 Barnet Segal Lane, Monterey, CA 93940.