Bruno Alfred Pomponio
August 31, 1930 ~ September 10, 2020
Bruno Alfred Pomponio, Rear Admiral, Supply Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired) of Vienna, Virginia, age 90, died peacefully in his home on September 10, 2020 following a brief illness.
Bruno was born in Azzinano, Italy on August 31, 1930, the second son of Orazio and Anna Pomponio. To escape Mussolini’s Italy, with his mother and older brother Mario, at the age of 5 he immigrated to the United States joining his father and extended family in New York. The family found a home and freedom in the United States.
Bruno graduated from Pace College, New York in 1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve during the Korean War, graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI and was commissioned an Ensign in October 1952. In July 1956, LTJG Pomponio augmented into the U.S. Navy. He subsequently attended the Armed Forces Staff College and later the Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Management. His naval career took him and his family to assignments within the United States and abroad including Midway Island, Guam, and the Philippines. In October 1980 he was promoted to Rear Admiral. Bruno exemplified dedication, service, and sacrifice. The Navy and the nation are certainly better off because his family brought him to the United States, and because he chose to serve.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1985, Bruno worked briefly in private industry. Over the next few years, he and his wife Eleanor traveled including numerous trips to Italy to visit family, a trip to Ireland for Eleanor’s family and trips within the United States to visit family and the close friends gathered throughout his Naval career. Following the birth of their grandson and second granddaughter in the 1990s, Bruno and Eleanor lovingly became their daycare providers - a gift to their grandchildren and always a gift to them. Bruno was known for a manicured yard including, as his sons and later his grandson learned, a very specific process for cutting the grass. You could often find him in the chair that will always be his, reading or cheering on (or maybe yelling at) his beloved New York Yankees. He had a twinkle in his eye and a dry and quick sense of humor and could always be counted on to provide a wise, kind (and always brief) word when it was needed most.
Three years ago, Bruno traveled with family, including his younger brother Dino, to Fairport, New York to accept on behalf of the family the induction of his brother Mario into the Fairport High School Hall of Fame. Mario was Valedictorian of his high school class and at age 18 in August 1944 during World War II enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mario died in January 1945 in France and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart. The trip to Fairport was also an opportunity to return to, for what turned out to be the final time, Bruno’s family’s second U.S. home and the memories and family so important to him.
For his family and for what they imagine was the experience of many who knew him, Bruno’s gentle, selfless, humble nature, and his great sense of humor will be long remembered and forever missed.
Bruno is survived by his beloved and loving wife of 61 years, Eleanor, daughter, Joanne, sons Bruce and David, daughter-in-law Leslie and grandchildren, Lindsay, Mario, Andie, and Summer. He is also survived by his brother Dino (Merridy), his sister-in-law Eileen Alvarez, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on June 2nd, 2021 at 8:45 am at the Fort Meyer Old Post Chapel followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Because of COVID restrictions, if you would like to attend, please contact jpomponio@verizon.net. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org/.
Bruno was born in Azzinano, Italy on August 31, 1930, the second son of Orazio and Anna Pomponio. To escape Mussolini’s Italy, with his mother and older brother Mario, at the age of 5 he immigrated to the United States joining his father and extended family in New York. The family found a home and freedom in the United States.
Bruno graduated from Pace College, New York in 1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve during the Korean War, graduated from Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI and was commissioned an Ensign in October 1952. In July 1956, LTJG Pomponio augmented into the U.S. Navy. He subsequently attended the Armed Forces Staff College and later the Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Management. His naval career took him and his family to assignments within the United States and abroad including Midway Island, Guam, and the Philippines. In October 1980 he was promoted to Rear Admiral. Bruno exemplified dedication, service, and sacrifice. The Navy and the nation are certainly better off because his family brought him to the United States, and because he chose to serve.
Following his retirement from the Navy in 1985, Bruno worked briefly in private industry. Over the next few years, he and his wife Eleanor traveled including numerous trips to Italy to visit family, a trip to Ireland for Eleanor’s family and trips within the United States to visit family and the close friends gathered throughout his Naval career. Following the birth of their grandson and second granddaughter in the 1990s, Bruno and Eleanor lovingly became their daycare providers - a gift to their grandchildren and always a gift to them. Bruno was known for a manicured yard including, as his sons and later his grandson learned, a very specific process for cutting the grass. You could often find him in the chair that will always be his, reading or cheering on (or maybe yelling at) his beloved New York Yankees. He had a twinkle in his eye and a dry and quick sense of humor and could always be counted on to provide a wise, kind (and always brief) word when it was needed most.
Three years ago, Bruno traveled with family, including his younger brother Dino, to Fairport, New York to accept on behalf of the family the induction of his brother Mario into the Fairport High School Hall of Fame. Mario was Valedictorian of his high school class and at age 18 in August 1944 during World War II enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mario died in January 1945 in France and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart. The trip to Fairport was also an opportunity to return to, for what turned out to be the final time, Bruno’s family’s second U.S. home and the memories and family so important to him.
For his family and for what they imagine was the experience of many who knew him, Bruno’s gentle, selfless, humble nature, and his great sense of humor will be long remembered and forever missed.
Bruno is survived by his beloved and loving wife of 61 years, Eleanor, daughter, Joanne, sons Bruce and David, daughter-in-law Leslie and grandchildren, Lindsay, Mario, Andie, and Summer. He is also survived by his brother Dino (Merridy), his sister-in-law Eileen Alvarez, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on June 2nd, 2021 at 8:45 am at the Fort Meyer Old Post Chapel followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Because of COVID restrictions, if you would like to attend, please contact jpomponio@verizon.net. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans https://www.dav.org/.
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