Adrian A. Bruno
Born on February 21, 1939 in Geneva, New YorkPassed away July 22, 2026 in Titusville, Florida
July 22, 2026 Adrian Anthony “Tony” Bruno passed away at St Francis Reflections in Titusville, Florida. He was 87. He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Edith (Lofaro) Bruno, sister Lorraine (Bennett) and his wife of 60 years Ruth Delores (Johnson). He is survived by sons Michael (Anna) and Jeffrey Bruno, several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends including Jim Scura, his closest friend for 70 years.
Adrian was born in Geneva, NY and raised in nearby Rochester NY where he attended East High School. At age 15, he designed and built a scale model car which won a top National award and college scholarship in the 1955 General Motors Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild automotive design competition. His winning model now resides on display at the famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. After earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University in 1960, Adrian completed Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI. He then served 3 years aboard the Destroyer Robert K Huntington DD781, based in Mayport, Florida during the turbulent times of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination and Russian hostilities in the Black Sea. In February of 1962 his was one of 3 destroyers deployed to recover John Glenn and his Mercury spacecraft, Friendship 7, after becoming the first American to orbit the earth. In March of the same year his destroyer was sent out into The Ash Wednesday Storm, one of the most destructive storms to ever hit the mid Atlantic coast, in order to rescue 27 crewmen stranded aboard the Liberian tanker Gem after she broke in half off Cape Hatteras.
At this time he met the love of his life, Ruth Delores (Dee) Johnson. Upon Adrian’s discharge from the Navy in 1964, the couple settled in Corning, NY where their 2 sons were born. Adrian began his industrial career with Corning Inc. holding positions in materials R&D, new product engineering and was Manager of Major Appliance Development. During this time he also earned his MBA degree from Syracuse University. In 1976 the family moved to Iowa City following Corning’s sale of their appliance business to Raytheon’s Amana Appliance Division located in Amana, Iowa. There, Adrian was Product Manager for Amana’s glass top and microwave range business.
In 1983 the family relocated to Rolling Meadows, IL after Adrian was recruited to join Middleby Corporation, as Vice President of Technology, Planning and Engineering. Over the next few decades the company would grow from $10 million in sales to over $4 Billion. In 2000, Adrian accepted a new position as Vice President R&D at Weber-Stephen Products, manufacturer of the iconic Weber grill, where he remained until his retirement in 2013.
Adrian truly loved his work and the creative process that resulted in developing a multitude of successful new products. During his long career in new product development, Adrian was granted 57 US patents. He often said that developing a new product and taking it from concept to market is the closest thing a man can do to giving birth.
During his leisure time Adrian maintained a high level of physical fitness and was an avid skier, runner, golfer and tennis player. On his retirement in 2013 the couple acquired a second home in Melbourne Beach, Florida and became snowbirds.
Per Adrian’s wishes, no funeral or memorial service will be held.
