Robert
R. Bruno, Jr. (born January 30, 1945, Los Angeles, Calif.), internationally recognized sculptor and artist, died
Tuesday, December 9 from complications of cancer at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. He is survived by his daughter, Christina
Bruno, of Lubbock, TX; his father and stepmother, Robert Sr. and Margaret Bruno, of Racine, WI; his mother, Dolores Puig;
two sisters, Kathleen (Ricky) Bergles of Racine and Diane (Emilio) Savaglio of Kenosha, WI; and several nieces and nephews.
Robert's 110-ton steel architectural
sculpture located in Ransom Canyon is a well known labor of love and artistic expression of 35 years in the making. It has
earned international accolades and publicity in art, architecture, and many professional publications, on film and TV events
including HGTV's "Extreme Homes" and The Learning Channel. His sculptured home attracts photographers and admirers worldwide.
It was the backdrop for the 2007 Fall Neiman Marcus fashion catalog.
Robert taught, guest lectured,
and mentored students at Texas Tech's School of Architecture for years and freely shared his philosophy and sculpture with
many visitors to the Canyon. He was also recognized for the design and creation of the first solar-powered surge valve and
fertigation system for row crops through his Lubbock-based irrigation manufacturing company, P&R Surge Systems. His valve
has conserved millions of gallons of water, fuel and fertilizer for row crop irrigators worldwide for over 25 years.
He was a very loving father, devoted
husband, great mentor and friend.
A memorial service is planned for
1 p.m. Saturday, December 13 at Resthaven's Abbey Chapel. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Resthaven Funeral
Home.
