Gary L. Bruno Memorial Fund
Gary Lee Bruno, beloved father, grandfather, philanthropist, business man and friend, left this world on Nov. 9th 2023 after a courageous fight with Parkinson's Disease.
Gary was born August 11, 1946 in Morgantown, West Virginia and was the middle of 5 boys. At the age of 8, Gary and his family moved to Fresno, CA where he grew up in a large Italian family. He graduated from Fresno State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While in college, Gary joined the Marine Corps, receiving his commission as an officer in July 1966.
Gary served proudly on active duty as a U.S. Marine for nearly 4 years, including a tour in Vietnam as an artillery officer, which earned him a Navy Commendation Medal (V for Valor), Combat Action Ribbon, Selected USMC Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Medal, Vietnam War Arvn Dan Vy Boi Tinh Civilian Service and Republic of Vietnam Civic Action Medal. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lt. Colonel in 1986 and remained extremely proud of his service to our nation for the remainder of his life. Gary’s final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
After returning to Fresno from active duty, Gary enjoyed spending time with his family, coaching his daughter's cross-country teams, participating with them in Indian Princesses, watching Star Trek & John Wayne movies, and finding the perfect Christmas tree.
In 1978, Gary established G.L. Bruno Associates, Inc (GLBA) which is a full scale, service-disabled veteran-owned development and construction company that develops, constructs and manages healthcare projects across the western United States.
Gary was a firm believer that real success, the kind that exists on multiple levels, was impossible without building meaningful and long lasting relationships with clients, investors, design partners, and construction partners. Gary was authentic, consistent, and operated with principled values which is why he gained so many people’s trust. To Gary, you weren’t just an investor or a contract, you were part of the G.L. Bruno Associates, Inc. Family.
Throughout his life, Gary maintained a core belief in giving back. In 1996, he founded the G.L. Bruno Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3), to offer support to socially and economically disadvantaged people in the Central Valley and beyond.
In lieu of flowers, Gary's family requests donations the the Gary. L. Bruno Memorial Fund which will help continue Gary's legacy of giving back.
together, we can make a difference.
For the past 27 years, the G.L. Bruno Family Foundation has raised over $1.5 million for deserving non-profit organizations within the Central Valley. Funds raised at our annual golf tournament allow the Foundation to support charities consistent with our charter including United Cerebral Palsy Central Valley, Make-A-Wish, Art of Life and many more!