Joe Bruno, last of a special breed

JOE BRUNO was a true son of South Philly. By age 10, he already had developed his lifelong passion for the finer things of life - cards, craps, boxing, movies and baseball.

"Joe was a regular fixture at the corner hangouts and casinos where he loved to play poker," his family said.

Joseph "Joe Gary" Bruno, a 25-year employee of Crown, Cork and Seal who raised his family in and lived in the same house at 9th and McKean streets for 68 years, died Monday at age 89.

Joe had suffered a blood clot a 18 months ago and his kidneys were damaged. He was on dialysis.

"Joe passed peacefully during his after-dinner nap in his favorite chair with his family around," said his grandson Joseph DeAngelo.

"It was fortunate the Phillies had the night off. If they had been playing, I don't think he would have gone."

The Phillies were his passion from childhood, when he would catch the games at Shibe Park, Connie Mack Stadium and later the Vet and Citizens Bank.

When he couldn't get out to the stadiums, he listened to the games on radio or watched them on TV. He never wanted to miss a game, and, of course, he joined all of Philadelphia in rejoicing over the team's World Series championship last October.

Joe was also a passionate boxing fan. In their youth, he and his best friend, "Fats Gary" Barrett, would watch two matches in Philly every week, then go to New York every Friday to catch the matches at Madison Square Garden. They followed this routine for 15 years.

When Fats Gary died, Joe became "Joe Gary."

Joe himself boxed in his youth.

Angelo Scarlata operated a chicken store at 9th and Dudley, and he had a lovely daughter named Mary Ann, who worked in the store. Joe was a customer and he started dating Mary Ann. They were married in 1941 and settled at 9th and McKean to raise a family.

In 1957, Joe started working at Crown Can, as Crown, Cork and Seal was known then. He worked the third shift his entire career because he liked to have his days and evenings free.

Joe gave his paycheck to his wife for family expenses, never taking an allowance. Because of his skill at poker, he was able to make the spending money he needed.

He also liked playing poker at the Atlantic City casinos, and a week before he died, he played at Caesar's.

Joe got his name by being born on St. Joseph's feast day, March 19, at 9th and Bainbridge, the youngest of the five children of Joseph and Angelina Bruno, immigrants from Belmonte Mazzagno, Sicily.

"Joe was truly one of the last of a special breed born to South Philly," his grandson said.

He was well-known and popular in his neighborhood.

"He was a true gentleman," his grandson said. "He was a loving and humble man who never raised his voice and did not say a bad word about anybody, as nobody ever needed to say a bad word about Joe Gary."

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Georgina Wigand, Mary Ann Furia and Elaine Bruno; a son, Joseph; nine other grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, 910 Watkins St. Friends may call at 7 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Carto Funeral Home, 2212 S. Broad St. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.