Obituary of Giacomo Giovanni Bruni

Giacomo (Jack) Giovanni Bruni, 94, died peacefully on February 2, 2019. Jack was born in New York City, the youngest of Luigi and Caterina (Bertani) Bruni’s children.  He grew up in Astoria, Queens, surrounded by the love of his parents, both from the Province of Parma, Italy, and his siblings, Dominick and Angela Ida. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps after graduating from the Manhattan School of Aviation and Trades, receiving his basic training in Miami Beach, Florida and serving his country proudly during World War II as an Aviation Mechanic of B-24J airplanes in Charleston, South Carolina. Upon Jack’s honorary discharge, he joined ConEdison where he worked for many years. In 1948, he married Angela Figuni from Long Island City and settled in Astoria.  They had four children, Lawrence, Catherine, Barbara, and David and all grew up with loving parents and grandparents, enjoying Astoria Park, Jones Beach, the Sussex County Farm and Horse Shows, and trips to the lakes and mountains of New Jersey. They worshipped at the Immaculate Conception RCC, embraced by relatives and friends in the Astoria community. Jack and Angela had been married over 44 years at her passing in 1993. As an evening student at New York University, Jack completed a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (1955) and secured a job with the Lummus Company, a design-engineering firm for the petrochemical industry, located in New York City.  When Lummus relocated to Bloomfield, New Jersey, Jack subsequently relocated his family to Oakland and continued his career with Lummus until his retirement.  He enjoyed his international business travels to England, Germany, Russia, Sicily, Greece, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. During his retirement, he went back to his Italian roots, accompanied by his son Lawrence and daughter-in-law Miriam, including a visit to his parents’ hometown in Bedonia, Parma.  He also enjoyed several trips to National Parks with his daughter Barbara and son-in-law Stephen.  An avid golfer, he liked to play golf with his friends and walk the courses and equally enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow veterans at the American Legion Post 369 in Oakland. Jack is survived by his children Lawrence (wife Miriam),  Catherine (husband Bruce), Stephen (wife Elisa), David, and grandson Cole, nephews Louis and Anthony, nieces Rina and Ann, and their respective families.  He is preceded in death by his wife Angela, daughter Barbara, and grandson Zachary, nephew John, and niece Maria. Viewing will be at the Oakland Memorial Home, 330 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, NJ on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM on Thursday, February 7, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ, followed by interment at Christ the King Catholic Cemetery, 980 Huron Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ. Donations in Jack’s memory may be made to the Oakland American Legion Post 369 or to either          Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Oakland New Jersey, Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Kendall Park New Jersey, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes..