Bruno Stanley Bobinski

Bruno Stanley Bobinski died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Yaphank, N.Y., on Tuesday February 8, 2011. He was 77 years old.

He was born October 19, 1933, in Riverhead, N.Y., to Bronislaw Bobinski and Althea Ruszkowski. His parents purchased a farm in Yaphank in 1949 and Bruno moved there when he was a teenager. In 1952 he graduated from Port Jefferson High School, where he was a standout athlete on the football team his senior year. He married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Reeve, on February 5, 1955, and they would eventually settle down not far from the farm that he grew up on and ran until 1964.

In 1964 Bruno joined the Suffolk County Police Department and served them for over 28 years, retiring as a Detective in the 6th Squad in 1992. Although he chose a professional career in law enforcement, he still had a passion for farming. Over the years he gained quite the reputation among family and friends for maintaining one of the most meticulously groomed victory gardens on the East End.

In addition to being agriculturally inclined, Bruno was also a talented musician and an avid fisherman. In his early years he was known as a gifted trumpet player and was the leader of two bands, the Polka Boys and the Islanders. They performed at many functions on the East End in the late ’50s and early ’60s and were always well received. In his later years, Bruno took to boating and enjoyed entertaining family and friends on many of his maritime excursions. When he wasn’t tending his garden, out boating, or taking a walk with his wife, Bruno enjoyed watching his two favorite sports teams in action, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Musketeers of Xavier University.

He will always be remembered as a gentle, caring and honorable man and will be greatly missed by all.

Bruno was predeceased by his beloved wife, Phyllis, and his sister Bertha, of Dover, Del. He is survived by his son, Michael Bobinski of Mason, Ohio; his daughter, Jo Ann Moore (née Bobinski) of Leesburg, Va.; and his cherished grandchildren, Brian, Megan and Melissa. In addition to his children and grandchildren, Bruno is survived by his siblings, Edith Pendulik of Highland, N.Y., Theodora Czartosieski of Southold, N.Y., Joseph Bobinski of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and George Bobinski of Loveland, Ohio.

Funeral services were held at Giove Funeral Home in Middle Island, N.Y., on Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12, 2011. Memorial donations may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.