A Celebration to Honor Our Dear Friend –
Memorial Minute for BOB BRUNINGA
April 27, 1948—February 7, 2022
Robert (Bob) Ervin Bruninga left us early this year after a long journey with sarcoma for over two years, followed by COVID 19. His deep concerns for the environment and for the future of our planet found a home in Annapolis Friends Meeting since 1985. He has left us tools and memories—our solar grid, EV chargers, windows in the hallway doors, upgraded heating and air conditioning systems. We delightedly watched his children, Bethanne and AJ, grow under the care of our Meeting. He even loaned us his wife, Elise, for four years to clerk our Meeting. Bob was a leading Light in our Meeting House and Lands Committee and in Climate Stewards. He often facilitated workshops on the environment and climate change for Baltimore Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions.
Born and raised in Alabama, Bob migrated our way, making his career with the US Navy, becoming a Commander and a Senior Research Engineer at the Naval Academy. where he founded the Small Satellite Program. His avocations were even more fascinating as a pioneer of digital amateur radio techniques and a renewable energy innovator and activist. His signature achievement, Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), originally plotting positions of Navy ships for the Apple II platform, grew to a system employed by tens of thousands of international users. Turning to space, he designed the Crew Interface to enable school groups to talk with astronauts aboard the International Space Station via ham radio.
Bob modified a Chevy Volt with rooftop solar panels and built multiple solar arrays to power his home—one on a floating pier. He authored a book, Smart Choices: Opportunities to Make Wise Decisions for a Sustainable Future, to encourage people to switch to renewable energy sources.
Bob is survived by his wife of 37 years, Elise Albert, daughter Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar, her husband Jacob and daughter Isabelle Socolar, son Andrew John (A.J.) Bruninga, brother John and sister-in-law Kathy Bruninga, nephew Wil Bruninga, and brother-in-law Matthew McGough.
Bob Bruninga walked the earth with care and let his life speak. All who knew him were the better for this. We will miss him greatly.
5/1/2022 Annapolis Friends Meeting
Religious Society of Friends