Former Highlands teacher, administrator Ang Bruni recalled for lifelong service

Longtime Highlands teacher and Brackenridge Councilman Ang Bruni is being recalled by friends and family as a consummate professional with a gift for writing and public speaking.

Angelo “Ang” Bruni Sr., 84, died Tuesday at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

“He was my English teacher in the 1970s,” Highlands School Board member Deb Beale said. She later worked with him in the 1990s when Bruni transitioned to become assistant to the superintendent and the district’s public relations liaison.

“Back then, we would have roasts when someone retired and, let me tell you, nobody, literally nobody, could do it better than Ang,” Beale said.

Born in New Kensington, Bruni graduated in 1954 from Ken Hi before earning a bachelor’s degree from Saint Vincent College in 1959. A master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh followed in 1968.

“He was very bright and very well-read,” said Bruni’s younger brother, Richard, an attorney and Harrison resident.

“He had a number of degrees and took a lot of administrative classes.”

Richard Bruni recalled growing up in a large Italian family with “so many aunts and uncles it was hard to count.”

“My mom was ill a few times when I was young, and Ang was the one who took care of me,” Bruni said. “We enjoyed family traditions as young children and Ang made sure they continued.

“He would always have the fish dinner on Christmas Eve, and he made sauce from his canned tomatoes.”

Bruni was a member of the Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington and the church’s Holy Name Society. He also belonged to the Sons of Italy, Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

A music lover, Bruni grew up as an accomplished French horn player, earning first chair in school orchestras.

“He was an excellent musician — but that’s not something he could continue too much after having seven children,” Richard Bruni said.

After serving in the Army, Bruni settled into a teaching career at Highlands. He notably spent his first year on the job educating the last graduating class at Tarentum High School. He transitioned to the newly merged Highlands High School in 1968 and enjoyed a 35-year career.

In addition to being an English and journalism teacher, he served as the district’s public relations director. He was instrumental in the behind-the-scenes process for nearly every communications effort, district event, school program and recognition ceremony, said Jen Goldberg, district communications coordinator.

“Ang’s gift for speaking and writing was unmatched,” she said. “His meticulous attention to detail was well-known among the staff, and he was the go-to person if you needed something proofread before it was distributed. His knowledge and opinions were highly valued.”

Bruni served as editor of the district’s community newsletter The Report Card (later Inside Highlands); sponsor of the high school’s student newspaper, The Rampages; adviser to the commencement student speakers; and was the district spokesperson.

Bruni hired Goldberg in 1994 as the assistant public relations director and they worked together for nearly a dozen years.

“He had a profound impact on my professional career,” she said. “He was truly a mentor and loyal friend to me for so many years, and I will miss our conversations and friendship.”

Bruni lived most of his adult life in Brackenridge, where he served on borough council.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna, in 2018.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Giunta-Bertucci Funeral Home in Arnold, where friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday.