Thomas E. Bruss
June 26, 1941 ~ May 10, 2024
Born in:
Far Rockaway, New York
Resided in:
Pueblo, Colorado
Celebration of Life:
Thomas E. Bruss, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, cashed in his chips and left the final table on May 10, 2024.
He was born in Far Rockaway, New York to Bill and Annie Bruss in 1941. His sisters, Cookie and Lori, his brothers Terry and Billy, and his sweet cousins who lived on the other side of their family’s two-story Long Island duplex, claimed he was the favorite child.
In 1963, he was drafted and served in the United States Army in Vietnam. Just before he was deployed, he fell in love with a pretty girl from Bojon town. By the end of his tour, he had made Pueblo his home and that pretty girl his wife.
Over the next 59 years, the couple made many friends and many memories alongside their children Tommy (Lori) Bruss, Annie (Craig) Evans, and Jamie (Mike) Patti; their grandchildren Logan (Kari), Mason, Joseph, and Thomas—and their great-grandchildren Cillian, Charley, and Jack.
A railroad engineer for the CF&I, a radio salesman, a church league softball coach, a trusted southpaw on his championship bowling team, Vice President of the Downtown Association, President of Pueblo Crimestoppers, Santa Claus, advocate for Pueblo soccer and the Arkansas Riverwalk, coordinator for the B-Street Bash, and more. A lot more. All while never missing an anniversary, an elementary school concert, a horse race, the punchline of a joke, a poker game, or dessert. Whether he sat in a folding chair on the sidelines of a flag football game or in box seats at a Super Bowl, he experienced every touchdown and every tackle as if it were his own.
Tom is survived by his beautiful wife, Claire, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, dear friends, caregivers, war buddies, and bookies—all who loved him deeply and whose lives will never be the same without him.
Please join us on Friday, June 7th at 2:00 pm at Christ the King Church to honor, Tom—a.k.a. Big T, Mr. Pueblo, Mr. Tom, Brother Tom, Uncle Tommy, Papa Tom, Dad, and Grandpa—to celebrate his great big personality and reflect on a life well-lived.
Dinner will be served immediately following Mass at the Hall of Christ the King. And if you’re not quite ready to go home after dinner, feel free to join us for a friendly game of cards.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, please send donations to Pueblo Crimestoppers, 200 S. Main St., Pueblo, CO 81003 or just put $10 down on a long shot and think of Tom while you watch the most exciting 2 minutes of your life.
Feel free to share your favorite stories and photos in the comments.
Services
Memorial Mass: June 7, 2024 2:00 pm
Christ The King Church
1708 Horseshoe Dr.
Pueblo, CO 81001
719-542-1552
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2024-06-07 14:00:00
2024-06-07 14:00:00
ThomasE.BrussMemorial Mass
Memorial Mass
1708 Horseshoe Dr.,Pueblo, CO 81001
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Hope you are resting peacefully and watching down on us all. You will be deeply missed and forever loved
Tom Bruss was definately a one of a kind. So active in the community and always willing to help out. I remember my very first Pueblo Downtown Association breakfast and I saw this man “larger than life” shaking hands and working the room, he seemed to know everyone in the room. He came over introduced himself and took me to others to meet that morning. It was from that moment that Tom continued to introduce me to those in our community and asked me to help with many organizations over the years i.e. Pueblo Downtown, Crime Stoppers, Pueblo Parade of Lights, etc. Tom was the hardest working volunteer in our community. Thank you Tom Bruss for the years of friendship and support. My condolences to the Bruss family.
I have such fond memories of Tom! He gave me and Annie driving lessons and by the time it was all said and done; he had about six cigarettes in his mouth.
Annie, God Bless you and your dear family!! I will be out of town that day but know I am thinking of you all!
Dear Claire and Family,
I’m so sorry to read of Tom’s passing. I worked with him for many years on the Downtown Association board. Such a great guy! He knew so many people and could always be counted on to help drum up support. He was involved in all of our many projects – always with a smile, positive attitude, and a corny joke. Thinking of him, makes me smile. His abiding dedication to Pueblo, especially downtown, was unsurpassed and irreplaceable. He will be missed. With sincere condolences,
Peggy Willcox
Tom was such a fun, kind, caring and humorous guy! I was so lucky to grow up watching him and my dad joke, gamble, play Santa and Snoopy to disadvantaged children and enjoy watching all of us play. I loved the friendship they shared! I hope they’re enjoying their poker games together again and joking with one another like they always did! Tom will be missed in our community but never ever forgotten! My deepest condolences!
Love you Bruss family!❤️
I met Tom through my husband Orie. We enjoyed Tom and his humor and time we spent with him and Claire. He was an amazing man and I know he will be missed by so many family and friends. I enjoyed the times we played cards and somehow he always seemed to win. Great Guy.
Tom was a great competitor for advertising dollars but we worked together on a couple of ad campaigns and he was always fair. I would see Tom at various events and he always seemed to be in charge. It is sad that another Pueblo media man is gone.
My buddy Tom. I will never forget our car rides & sales talks not to mention FUN lunch meetings.
You made the days fun & left an everlasting impression on me.
Thank you.
Jack and Norma Gwartney
Fast forward to the early 2000s, I was going in to the B-Street Bash and the gentleman at the entrance checking ID’s saw my name on my driver’s license and remembered me as one of his young soccer players. It was Tom Bruss. He re-introduced himself and we had a nice visit.
Just in the last week, for some reason I was thinking about him and my early soccer days and growing up in Belmont, and today writing this I see maybe why. Thank you, Coach Bruss for being my first soccer coach, and for your kindness and enthusiasm, and thank you also for all you have done for Pueblo. My condolences to the Bruss family.
Kristina Trotter Blackmore
I just got to talk to Tom a few months back. I always enjoyed his humor and kind words. He will be missed.
My deepest condolences to the family. Tom was very special, he took care of our radio Ads for J.R.S Country Stores for many years. His famous line was I have a deal for ya! He helped us when we had break in with Crimestopper. A Beautiful personality and a terrific Human being!R.I.P
For the last 34 years, you have been my dad in every sense of the word. Thank you for always treating me as part of your family. I hope you know that me and Annie will miss you every day.
Love, Craig aka EE