FEBRUARY 2024 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Pete Bruno
Bridgewater YMCA & New Brunswick YMCA
“By bringing positivity to what you do, you can influence good throughout the community”
In the early hours of most weekdays, 94-year-old Pete Bruno can be found swimming laps in the Bridgewater YMCA pool. His commitment to this routine extends beyond mere physical activity—it’s a ritual that allows him to enjoy good health, the camaraderie, diversity, and the tales exchanged during these morning swims with the many friends he has made at the pool.
However, Pete’s connection with the YMCA isn’t a recent development; it traces back to his youth in 1934/35 when he and his friends walked three miles from Highland Park to New Brunswick. The YMCA in New Brunswick offered an hour of free pool use every Tuesday afternoon. Pete fondly reminisces, “The whole hour was enjoyably spent jumping, splashing, yelling, and laughing—a very joyous experience for young children of poor means.”
Over 85 years later, Pete still looks forward to the refreshing, happy fun he finds in the waters of the YMCA pool. His commitment to community extends beyond recreational pursuits—he spent over 40 years at J&J, served 16 years as chairman on the Board of Directors of Financial Resources Federal Credit Union (and 4 years as Chairman Emeritus), and dedicated his time to the Boy Scouts of America (he is the proud father and grandfather of 2 Eagle Scouts). For Pete, being a volunteer instilled the importance of actively contributing to community improvement and fostering positivity in others. He is very proud that the YMCA supports and promotes so many initiatives that do that as well.
Pete’s story not only highlights his individual journey but also serves as a reminder to be present in the moment and the significance of connecting with others. During last year’s shutdown while the Bridgewater YMCA was making improvements on the pool he spent a month at a different facility which was a “very nice high-end gym with a beautiful pool”. And in his words, that was a “terrible experience”! Although the facilities were nice, everyone was in their own world, on their devices (even in the whirlpool) and there was no socializing or connectivity. He said during that month, he probably said less than 10 words to the people there. According to Pete, the YMCA’s uniqueness isn’t just about the workouts and the facilities but that it has a unique ability to bring people together. He enjoys the socializing, locker room banter, and diversity of Bridgewater YMCA friends.
*This newsletter is driven by our community and isn’t officially endorsed by the Y. The Y assumes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the information presented in this newsletter.