Beloved Christian Brothers Teacher, Jersey Shore Coach Dies At 68

MONMOUTH COUNTY - A revered teacher, coach and athletics director who served Monmouth County school districts for 45 years has died at the age of 68.

William Bruno, a Howell Township resident, passed away June 19 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, his obituary reads. The lifelong educator taught from 1976 to 2021 at a variety of New Jersey institutions including Manalapan High School, Christian Brothers Academy, Asbury Park High School and Pinelands Regional High School.

He was named Ocean County Teacher of the Year in 1998, according to his obituary, as well as inducted into the coaching Hall of Fames for Pinelands Regional, NJSIAA/New Jersey Scholastic, the Shore Conference of High Schools and Christian Brothers Academy.

Alongside teaching, Bruno followed in the footsteps of his father, the esteemed Asbury Park High School football coach Butch Bruno, to coach the sport at Manalapan High School and Pinelands Regional High School. He also coached track at Christian Brothers Academy, Manalapan High School, Christian Brothers Academy and Pinelands Regional High School.

He became an athletic administrator in 1999, serving Marlboro High School, Howell High School, and Brick and Brick Memorial High Schools over the course of 16 years before his retirement in 2015. Bruno served on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education and is the brother of current board president Peter Bruno.

In August 2015, Bruno was appointed as an assistant director at the NJSIAA and was tasked with overseeing the state’s cross country, winter and spring track seasons and was named the meet director for each sports championship. He also received the NIAAA-Certificate of Appreciation and the Shore Chapter of the NJSIAA Wrestling Association “Man of the Year.”

Bruno was a Christian Brothers Academy and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) graduate. He obtained a master’s degree in History at The College of New Jersey and another master’s in Educational Administration from Georgia Court College.

Bruno is survived by his wife, Dr. Jeannette Bruno, his sons Kyle & Eric Bruno, his stepsons Cole Cameron, CJ Cameron & his spouse Alicia & granddaughter, Brielle. His siblings Peter Bruno, James Bruno, Kathy Celli & Mary Pat Napolitano.

“Bill Bruno was a great man,” said Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD) superintendent Dr. Charles Sampson.

“(He was) someone who was always trying to make the world a better place for others. He was on the Board of Education that hired me and went out of his way to support me over the past decade. Bill never stopped making sure I felt supported, which is how he was with everyone he knew. He contributed so much to Freehold Regional, from his days as a teacher, coach, and Supervisor of Extracurricular Activities at various FRHSD schools to his term on the Board of Education. Bill will always be remembered for all that he has done for students and athletes across the state of New Jersey.”