Arnold V. Bruni

On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, Arnold Victor Bruni passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife, Mary Ellen Bruni and his family. Arnold was born on September 18, 1934 in Bronx, N.Y. to Victor A. Bruni and Alessandra (Helen) Bruni. In 1937, the family moved to the Santa Clara Valley and Arnold was raised in San Jose, along with his three siblings. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory (1952) and received his Bachelor of Science from Santa Clara University (1956). His eight years of instruction and guidance from the Jesuit Order at these two institutions had a profound and positive impact upon him for the rest of his life.One day in 1951, as a Senior at Bellarmine, while attending a school conference in San Francisco, Arnold met his future wife Mary Ellen Nolan, a Notre Dame High School student. They were married on June 16, 1956 at St. Joseph's Cathedral, San Jose, CA, and soon thereafter started a family, raising five rambunctious children. After graduating from Santa Clara University, Arnold served his country in the US Army, at both Fort Sill, OK and Fort Lewis, WA, obtaining the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After completing his service in the Army, Arnold entered the family business, Exchange Linen Service, which had four facilities in northern California. In 1959, Arnold moved to Antioch, CA to head up a fifth branch of the business, Contra Costa Linen Supply. According to Arnold and Mary Ellen's children, growing up in Antioch in the 1960s was "a paradise". There was plenty to do in this small town on the San Joaquin River delta. Arnold taught his children to fish, hunt pheasants and water ski. He took his family on beach vacations to Lake Tahoe in the summer and snow skiing trips in the winter. He also supported his children in their many activities, such as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Y Indian Guides, Brownies, Little League and music and dance lessons. In addition to being a loving father, Arnold was blessed with a mechanical aptitude, and spent many an hour repairing his children's numerous minibikes, motorcycles and automobiles. Arnold was also active in Kiwanis Club, a fraternal organization, as well as the Holy Rosary School Dad's Club.In 1975, Arnold and his family returned to the Santa Clara Valley, as Arnold joined his brother Larry Bruni, and his father, Victor A. Bruni to operate Exchange Linen Service located on Senter Road in San Jose. The business, which opened in San Jose in 1938, supplied table linens, garments, sheets and towels to restaurants, medical offices and hotels throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. The green and white delivery trucks with the initials ELS and the slogan "It Pays To Keep Clean" were a common and everyday sight on the streets of Santa Clara County. The business was sold in 2006. During his career with Exchange Linen, Arnold held the position of Treasurer, Vice President and President.Arnold remained active throughout his life in supporting both Bellarmine and Santa Clara University. He was a member of the SCU Board of Fellows for 33 years and served as Board Chair from 2011-2012. He and Mary Ellen were blessed to be able to travel the world with fellow board members on trips to Ireland, Spain, Poland and Eastern Europe, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. Arnold and Mary Ellen rarely missed Bellarmine's Golden Bell Dinner Auction, and in 2003 Mary Ellen was lucky enough to win both the "Raffle" and a cruise on a private sailing ship through the Mediterranean. They donated the Raffle prize 50/50 to Bellarmine and Notre Dame and then went on the trip of a lifetime. Arnold also served as a Lector at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, their parish, in Los Gatos, CA. Arnold is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ellen, five children, Steven Bruni (Liz), Chris Bruni (Jennifer), Victor Bruni, Cmdr., US Navy, Ret. (Lynda), Sandra Bruni Heiss and Richard Bruni, and his eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, his sisters, Theresa Ageno and Elaine Bruni, and his brother Larry Bruni (Paula) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Victor A. Bruni and Alessandra (Helen) Bruni.Family and friends are invited to attend a Vigil Service Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at LIMA-CAMPAGNA-ALAMEDA MISSION CHAPEL, 600 S. Second Street, San Jose, with Visitation beginning at 4:00 P.M. at the above chapel. Funeral Mass Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at ST MARY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 219 Bean Avenue, Los Gatos. Interment at 2:00 P.M. at SANTA CLARA MISSION CEMETERY.The family respectfully requests no floral gifts. Donations may be made to the Arnold and Mary Ellen Bruni Scholarship Endowment Fund, c/o Santa Clara University or Bellarmine College Preparatory.