William J. Bruno, 68, passed away on Saturday, June 19, at the Jersey Shore Medical Center.
He was a member of the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education from 2009 until 2015.
“Bill Bruno was a great man,” said Dr. Charles Sampson, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD). “(He was) someone who was always trying to make the world a better place for others. He was on the Board of Education that hired me and went out of his way to support me over the past decade. Bill never stopped making sure I felt supported, which is how he was with everyone he knew. He contributed so much to Freehold Regional, from his days as a teacher, coach, and Supervisor of Extracurricular Activities at various FRHSD schools to his term on the Board of Education. Bill will always be remembered for all that he has done for students and athletes across the state of New Jersey.”
A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Bill graduated from the Christian Brothers Academy and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) before pursuing his master’s degree at Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey).
Bill was a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator who touched the lives of so many people over the course of his magnificent career from 1976 to 2021.
He was a teacher at Manalapan High School, Asbury Park High School, and Pinelands Regional High School. He earned Ocean County Teacher of the Year honors in 1998 while at Pinelands Regional.
In August 2015, he was named an assistant director at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and was tasked with overseeing the state’s cross country, winter and spring track seasons. He was a representative, member, director, presenter, instructor, and mentor for numerous programs in the state. Bill proposed and secured approval for girls wrestling in New Jersey. He received the Shore Chapter of the NJSIAA Wrestling Association “Man of the Year.”
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Jeannette Bruno; his sons Kyle and Eric Bruno, his stepsons Cole and C.J. Cameron, and many other family members. He is predeceased by his mother, Patricia, and father, Butch Bruno, the legendary head football coach at Asbury Park High School from 1946 to 1965.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, June 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Buckley Funeral Home, 509 Second Ave. in Asbury Park.
A funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, June 24, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Asbury Park at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. For condolences and to view the full obituary, please visit the Buckley Funeral Home website.