Robert W. Brune, Former Dover Twp. Mayor, Dies At 79

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Robert William Brune, who served on the Dover Township Committee and as the township's mayor three times in the 1970s, has died. He was 79.

Mr. Brune, who lived in the Chadwick Beach section for many years, died Aug. 10, 2017, at home surrounded by family, according to his obituary on the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals website.

Mr. Brune, who was born Aug. 4, 1938 in the Bronx, grew up in Dumont and graduated from Dumont High School in 1956, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Bob later received his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Rutgers University.

He served on the Dover Township Committee from 1970 to 1979, and was elected mayor by his fellow Committee members three times. Mr. Brune also served as the executive director of the Dover Township Municipal Utilities Authority during the early 1980s. He built and remodeled dozens of homes through his Robert Brune Construction business in the Shore area for several decades. Bob was an avid adventurer, dreamer, traveler and loved nothing more than a big bowl of Breyer's vanilla ice cream. And then another bowl.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Patricia Brune; four children, Susan Brune Lorenzo of Sterling VA; Cathleen Brune Healey of Choctaw, OK; Michael Brune of Alameda, CA, and James Brune of San Francisco, CA; five grandchildren, and a brother: Richard Brune of Brick.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held Sunday, Aug. 13, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, 995 Fischer Blvd., Toms River.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people consider a donation to the Visiting Nurse Association Health & Hospice of Central New Jersey or the Alzheimer's Association of New Jersey.

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