1912-1996
Entrepeneur, Philanthropist, Civic Leadder
Joseph S. Bruno, the oldest of eight children, was born in Birmingham, Alabama,
in 1912 to Sicilian immigrants Vincent and Maria Bruno. He became the model
of the American rags-to-riches hero, starting his life's work at age 12 when
he took a job in a neighborhood grocery. Only six years later and with $600,
Bruno had the vision and courage to begin a business of his own--a small grocery
store in downtown Birmingham.
By 1935, Bruno had opened a second store and married Katie Rosato. Two daughters,
Anne and Theresa Jo, were born to them. Both family and business thrived, and
by the 1950s, Bruno had welcomed his five brothers as partners in the company.
Bruno's professional success was tempered by his personal loss at the death
of Katie in 1956, but he persevered in business and in life. The widowed father
of two remarried in 1959, united in both love and shared grief with Katie's
sister Theresa.
Bruno's Incorporated grew dramatically throughout the 1960s and 1970s with the
addition os Big B drugstores and Food World grocery chains. Bruno's reputation
grew as well. In addition to numerous honors, the president of Italy named him
a Knight Officer of the Order of Merit, and as the embodiment of American oppurtunity,
he earned the Horatio Alger award. By 1995, his health failing, Bruno agreed
to the sale of the company he founded, now numbering 250 stores. The sale completed,
Bruno died the next year on January 21 knowing that others would take up his
life's work.
Joseph Bruno's name is synonymous not only with business success, but with dedication
to faith and service to others. The devout Catholic found many ways to share
the blessings enjoyed by his family. Above all, he believed in "giving
back," and in doing so, tirelessly served his community, all the while
building a better Birmingham. His philanthropy, both public and anonymous, benefited
education, medicine and the church. The record of Joseph Bruno's generosity
is as long and rich as his life.