In Loving Memory
November 12, 1926 - January 8, 2018
Bruno was born in Germany, came to the USA in October, 1938 and died in Seattle. When asked about his life, he would invariably answer that it was wonderful, except for the years of persecution in Nazi Germany. He loved the USA, its ideas and ideals and was ever grateful for the opportunities it afforded him. He was generous, honest, loved learning, and had a good sense of humor.
He started school at NYC P.S. 115, where he met his future brother-in-law Mannie. Both made the grade to elite Stuyvesant HS. After high school, Bruno served in the US Navy for 1 1/2 years. He next searched for the college located closest to home: Columbia University. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer, poetry being his favorite, he received his masters degree in electrical engineering in 1951.
After accepting a research engineering position at Boeing, he and his fiance, Inge Laband wed at NYC Hall and boarded the 20th Century Limited to Seattle on June 14, 1951. After a successful 6-year stint on the Boeing Bomarc project, he accepted an offer at a start-up that later became ELDEC Corporation. He served as president, building a multi-million dollar aeronautic manufacturing company over 36 years. Much of the success of the company resulted from several of his patented inventions and upon retirement, the company founded a scholarship at the U of W for engineering and business in his name.
Bruno was filled with joy and love for family and life. His sons remember trolling the waters of Puget Sound, crabbing, throwing footballs in the Arboretum, hiking, skiing, camping, bicycling, tennis, water-skiing, fishing, and traveling. He could grill a salmon, dress a turkey, tend bar.
He wholeheartedly supported his wife's activities promoting better education in the state and planning a multi-use park - now Magnuson Park at Sand Point. He served on the board of the Resource Center for the Handicapped, initiating its program to train electronic technicians. He was also active on the American Electronic Association (AEA) board. Bruno created a program to teach management to the younger generation, first for ELDEC personnel and later to members of the NW chapter of the AEA.
At 65, he and Inge began a very active retirement. Later, he immersed himself in music, particularly opera, reading poetry and biographies, and traveling, including an annual month-long stint on Maui, where they formed life-long friendships.
Bruno is survived by his wife, Inge, his four sons, Bob (Cindy) Randy (Leah) Michael (Sierra) and Bill, and grandchildren Aaron, Joey, Danny, Benjy, Josh, Sarah, Rachel, Madison, and Soren, his sister-in-law, Karen Laband, his nephews Jeff and Steve Laband and Ron Vogl, niece Amy Anderson, their spouses and offspring, plus first cousin Gunther Goldsmith - and other kith and kin -- almost all of whom would not have been born had Hitler been successful.
He died quietly, ready for his final goodbye. He brightened our world which still shines brighter because of him.
Donations in Bruno's name can be made to support one of his favorite organizations, Southern Poverty Law Center, or to the environmental organization of your choice, such as Sierra Club, or to the Kline Galland home which took such good care of his mother in Seattle for many years.