Michael E. Bruno, 93, lawyer, official

Michael E. Bruno of New Canaan, a retired attorney and former Ridgefield town official, died Wednesday, June 4. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Bruno was born on May 6, 1911, in Bridgeport and lived in Ridgefield and Wilton before moving to New Canaan.
After receiving his bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., he graduated from the law school there in 1934.
In 1937, he became one of the first attorneys to establish a full-time law practice in Ridgefield, maintaining an office above the old Gristede Brothers market (just south of Ridgefield Hardware).
After a brief stint in the Army in 1939, Mr. Bruno returned to Ridgefield, serving as chief air raid warden during World War II. He was the first chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, had been a member of the Board of Education, and served on the Park Commission.
He was also the town’s prosecuting grand juror back in the days when the town had a court in the town hall for motor vehicle cases and misdemeanors.
Mr. Bruno served as the town attorney in the late 1940s and represented the town for a term in the state Legislature.
In November 1951, he ran on the Republican ticket for judge of probate after the sitting judge, Ralph Cramp, died in office. His opponent was John Edward Dowling, a Democrat. In what was called at the time “the biggest upset” in years, Judge Dowling won the election (the last Democrat to hold the probate judgeship had been in 1879, and not one has held it since).
In 1940, Mr. Bruno was instrumental in establishing the Rotary Club here, and in 1991 was honored by Rotary International for 50 years of service.
In 1969, he was appointed a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Westport Branch of the Connecticut National Bank.
Mr. Bruno originally lived in Ridgefield, but in the 1952 moved to Wilton, continuing to maintain his practice in Ridgefield until around 1963, when he started a law firm in the Virgin Islands. There he spent most of his time representing and counseling corporate clients. He retired in 1969 and returned to Wilton, and eventually moved to New Canaan to be closer to his son.
Surviving are two sons, Michael E. Bruno II of East Hampton, N.Y., and Todd Bruno of New Canaan, and six grandchildren.
Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Wilton, on Monday, June 9. Arrangements were made through the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, New Canaan.