Joseph V. Bruno, 80, of Medford, MA, passed away on April 12, in his home surrounded by his family. He passed away too soon from cancer.

Joseph was born in East Boston to Louisa Bruno (formerly Cappucie) of Cambridge, MA and Giuseppe Bruno of Avellino, Italy. He grew up in Somerville and settled in Medford with his wife and two children, where he was a resident for 50 years.

In Medford, Joseph was involved in local politics and he was civically engaged. He supported and participated in many community initiatives and neighborhood activities to strengthen the city that he loved. He sat on the original Board of Directors for Medford Youth Soccer for many years. He was a life member of the Medford Lodge of Elks and past chairman trustee. He was also a past Exalted Ruler of the Somerville Lodge of Elks. Joseph was an active member of Saint Raphael’s Parish in West Medford and he was a familiar face at the Sunday 11:30 AM mass. He was a member of the Retired Men’s Club of Arlington. He retired from Verizon after 34 years and was an active member of the IBEW Local 2222.

Joseph enjoyed Boston sports, all Medford sports and watching his grandchildren in their many extracurricular activities. He enjoyed horse racing, local and national politics, and summer vacations at Yarmouth beach with his grandchildren, and winters in Naples, Florida. He loved being with family and friends and his home was often the central place for everyone to come and gather.

Joseph was a devoted and loving husband to his wife of 52 years, Rosalie (Talluto), and she called him “her rock.” He was an amazing father to his daughter Maria Bruno Ruiz and her husband Daniel Ruiz of Bethesda, Maryland, and his son Dean and his wife Jessica Bruno of Medford, MA. He is survived by six beautiful grandchildren: Domenico (15), Deniro (13), Alaina (11), and Ariana Bruno (11), Sofia (15) and Mateo Ruiz (8). He is also survived by his brother Vincent and his wife Lori Bruno of Naples Florida, his brothers-in-law, Dennis and his wife Kathi Talluto of Andover, MA and Richard and his wife Jackie Talluto of The Villages, Florida. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews who adored “Uncle Joe,” and his niece Michele Bruno who nursed him with compassion, optimism and love.

Joseph was warm, friendly, accepting and kind to everyone. His door was always open. This is exactly how he chose to live his life and he is missed beyond words.

A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High St., Medford on Saturday, April 17th at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with family in the church from 9:30 through 11 AM. Social distancing protocols will be observed throughout the services. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Joseph’s memory be made to Neurofibromatosis Northeast, https://nfnortheast.org/, in the name of his grandson, Deniro Bruno.