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PLATTSBURGH — The North Country is mourning the death of a leader who worked tirelessly to better the community in a wide variety of ways.
Former Clinton County Legislator Melvin R. "Bob" Bruno died Saturday at the age of 78.
Bill Bingel, former Clinton County administrator, said he has lost a dear friend.
"Bob was probably the greatest legislator and (legislature) chairman I ever worked for, and I worked for a lot," he said. "He was a very good leader. He was a very compassionate person who had a lot of common sense."
Bruno, a Democrat, was elected Schuyler Falls Town Supervisor in 1960, the youngest person ever elected to the position. He served on the Clinton County Board of Supervisors and later on the County Legislature, including seven years as chairman.
Bruno had a great relationship with the county administration staff, Bingel said.
"He had a lot of respect for people. He treated them with a lot of dignity."
Bruno sponsored the resolution that led to creation of Clinton Community College, Bingel said. He later received the college's first Honorary Degree in Humane Letters and had a campus street renamed Bob Bruno Way as a result.
Falcon Seaboard came to the area during his time in office, as did the Clinton County landfill.
Bruno was instrumental in getting a shelter set up during the refugee crisis of 1987. Bingel said it was Bruno who got his legislative colleagues to OK renovation of an out-of-use industrial building so the families turned away at the Canadian border had a place to stay.
"There were a lot of things that happened under his watch," Bingel said.
Bruno was a dedicated family man who tirelessly cared for his parents during their later years. He was very involved with his four sons and attended almost all of their athletic endeavors.
"He was awful proud of his children," Bingel said.
Bruno was a teacher at Northside Elementary at Plattsburgh Air Force Base and later Middle School principal at Peru Central School. He retired there in 1992.
"He was well-respected at Peru, first as a teacher, then as an administrator," Bingel said.
Schuyler Falls Town Supervisor Harold Ormsby followed Bruno in that position. He knew Bruno for many years, as Bruno worked on Ormsby's well-drilling rigs during his college years.
"He was a great friend," Ormsby said. "If he could, he would be the first one to do anything for you."
Differing political ideologies were never an issue, he said.
"I'm a Republican, and he was a Democrat, but that never came between us."
The pair later raced against each other on the local auto-racing circuit.
"Bob was a good driver. He won a lot of races," Ormsby said. "That was one of his real loves."
He said Bruno was born and raised in the Town of Schuyler Falls, and he lived most of his life in that community.
Bruno served as director of the Clinton County Agricultural and Industrial Fair for more than 40 years, Ormsby said, and only recently resigned his position on its Board of Directors due to health reasons.
"He ran the demolition derby there for a number of years."
Former County Legislator Bob Garrow said he first met Bruno when the two competed against each other in high-school sports.
"He was a real fine athlete."
Garrow said Bruno was an accomplished baseball player and briefly played professionally. He received even more acknowledgement for his service to the community and region.
"He was a real fine community person. He belonged to a number of organizations."
That included membership on the Clinton County Nursing Home Advisory Board, as district director of the Parent-Teacher Association and as a trustee of the St. Alexander's Catholic Church Council. Bruno was also a one-time chairman of the Clinton County Youth Commission and director of the Town of Schuyler Falls Youth Commission.
Bruno passed on a love for community service to his children, Garrow said, and they are now following in their father's footsteps.
"He gave a lot to North Country youths and the general public. Everyone will miss his contributions."
The two spent time in the County Legislature together.
"He worked for the people. He was well-regarded throughout this area," Garrow said. "My thoughts go out to his family."
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Alexander's Church in Morrisonville.
E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
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