David Bruen, First County Executive Dead at 84
David Bruen, Putnam’s first county executive and the man who oversaw the transformation of county government to what it is today, died last Saturday at the age of 84.
Colleagues and friends remembered Bruen, the only Democrat to hold the office of county executive, as a leader who was the right man for the job when Putnam changed from a six-member Board of Supervisors to a county executive and chartered form of government in which the Legislature replaced the Board of Supervisors.
With a big vision for the county and someone who always did his due diligence, Bruen displayed the qualities needed to be an exceptional county executive, said the people that worked with him.
His deputy county executive Regina Morini said it was an amazing opportunity for Bruen to start the county government from scratch, especially for a person that grew up in Putnam. She said the county was “his first love.”
“He was always a gentleman, always well dressed,” she said. “He took the job seriously. Very compassionate about the people who needed human services from the county.”
“He was just someone everyone liked,” Morini added. “Really loved.”
Morini’s last conversation with Bruen was in early January. She recalled Bruen telling her how happy he was to work with her and how he thought the two were always on the same page when thinking about county residents.
“He kind of said goodbye to me over the phone,” she said. “He knew what was happening and was ready to go and went very peacefully.”
The first two times Bruen ran for the office, he came away with victories, which was impressive for a Democrat in a Republican-heavy county, even decades ago. Morini said back then though, voters cast their ballot based off the person and not party affiliation.
Eventually Bruen lost to Republican Peter Alexanderson in 1986.
Former Democratic Commissioner Bob Bennett described Bruen as a mentor. When Bennett needed advice, he always turned to his friend. He still remembers a passionate recommendation letter Bruen wrote to the county Democratic Committee in order for Bennett to become its chairperson in the 1970s.
Bennett credits Bruen for bringing the county to a better place than before he took over. He added that Bruen’s insight and knowledge would be greatly missed.
“He had his mind always in the right place,” Bennett said. “Always out for what was right and best thing he could do for the people of Putnam and brought Putnam to where we are today. He was very, very instrumental.”
“Let’s call it the way it is,” Bennett continued. “He’s the man who changed the image and governmental process.”
Lillian Jones, the current Democratic Committee chairperson in the county, worked for Bruen and said he was always an advocate for fair government. As the county treasurer before becoming its executive, Bruen knew the county budget and overall finances better than anyone else.
“He created a very good fiscal environment for the county,” she said.
Democrat and NYS Supreme Court judge Victor Grossman said Bruen was a “continuing source of wisdom and experience for the people of Putnam County.” Grossman added Bruen was always giving of his time and he went to Bruen many times for help when Grossman was a legislator and Bruen was the county executive.
The county renamed the county office building along Gleneida Avenue the David O. Bruen Office Building in 2003.
He was the father of nine children. His wife, Marilyn, who was also active in the Putnam community, died about two years ago.
The funeral service is 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at St. Lawrence O’Toole Church and internment will be at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery.
