Eugene M. Brusiloff

I am a member of the Brusiloff Family, Joseph our Patriarch is my Great Grandfather, the Violinist/Conductor and I have the fortune of having built the World Class Orchestra of 53 musicians based in South Florida (now dis-banded). I am extremely proud to see the beautiful comments about Uncle Gene (RIP)

He was a wonderful teacher and friend to me. He taught me how to play trombone when I was in my 40s and he knew how to improvise and he could read music extremely well. He played with Peter Duchin's Orchestra and my wife and I saw him play at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. He had such a great ear that he did not really have to read the parts and I saw him play with Vince Giordano and other great Dixieland players. He also played bass with Duke Ellington's Orchestra as a subsitute in...

In the mid-1970´s, Mr Bruciloff was the music teacher at Cross Street School, in Williston Park. My father was a teacher there, as well. Recognizing that there was some great musical talent among the students then, Mr. Bruciloff as Director and my father As Manager, formed a "band" called, The Brass Knuckles". There was one boy in particular was an especially talented trumpeter and got a lot of solo pieces in the songs Mr Bruciloff carefully curated for the kids. They marched/played local...

At the age of six I became a trumpet student of Gene Brusiloff..except i couldn't hold the trumpet high enough. Gene gave me a mouthpiece and a small section of garden hose and I learned to play "this old man". Finally I got the strength to hold the horn and play in the police boys band under the direction of his father,Leon. I played in the band from 1957-1969. The brusiloffs nicknamed me Man O War because my voice was so low and it stuck throughout my band years. Those years with Gene...

As Gene would frequently say, "No matter where you go, there you are.

Gene Brusiloff and I were close friends for many years. We grew up in the Washington, DC area. Played in the Police Boys' Band together as kids and traveled to the rehearsals together on street cars. We both went to MacFarland Jr. High, Roosevelt High School in DC and the Catholic University of America where we received our music degrees. We were frequent quests at each others houses as we grew up. We hung out together socially as well as playing music together professionally. Even after Gene...

I am 51 years old. 41 years ago, Gene Brusiloff, "Mr. B" taught me (a girl!) how to play the trombone at Plandome Road Elementary School in Manhasset. He was such a positive, happy, lovin life kinda guy. I am now teaching 10 year olds to play trombone, and direct our 5th Grade band. I know I'm not the only legacy of Mr. B - I am only one of thousands who will never forget his inspiration. Wow- imagine a Mr. B alumni band?? We would rock the world.

I had the privelege of being Mr. Brusiloff's student at Meadow Drive School. Whenever I think of him I smile, because I remember his great sense of humor. He was a great teacher and I am a better person for knowing him. My deepest sympathies to his family.

I had the honor to work with Gene during most of his career in the Mineola School District. Attending every one of his concerts was a joyful event. Gene never made himself the center of attention. The children were always the stars! He was a talented classroom teacher and his students learned an appreciation for music and the arts. As a performer he was admired by his fellow musicians. I had the opportunity to hear him play recently at North Shore Towers and it was evident that he lost none...