Bruno Aho passed away unexpectedly on March 3 at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
He was born in Ashby, Mass., on April 4, 1921, the son of Henry and Laina Aho.
In 1927, he moved with his family to the farm in South Union, where he lived ever since.
Bruno graduated from Union High School in 1939. In high school he participated in all sports, but his love was baseball. He attended the University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1943. In college he lived in the “cabins” along the Stillwater River. He often recounted the long cold treks through all kinds of weather, just to get to class.
After graduation in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and participated in WWII. Bruno was stationed in the North Atlantic and the Pacific. He liked to recount the time spent aboard the “tin can” USS Swasey (DE-248), a Destroyer Escort.
After being discharged, he married the love of his life, Nina Brann, on Feb. 24, 1946.
Bruno was known throughout the county as a “pretty fair” baseball pitcher. He played for several town teams, including the Warren Sirens, which were popular in those days. He loved to strike them out and set them down.
After getting married, Bruno tried several occupations over the years. In 1954, he started work at Sylvania (later GTE) in Waldoboro. For most of his career he was the line supervisor for the “hen pen” as it was affectionately called. Over the years he became a troubleshooting expert within the company, dealing with the quality control and production of incandescent light bulb filaments. He traveled to facilities throughout the United States and Costa Rica in this capacity until he retired in 1985.
Bruno was an active hunter and fisherman. He loved deer season, hunting religiously with a group of friends throughout the state from first day sun-up of the season to last day sunset. He was also an avid golfer, who worked to the end trying to correctly transfer his weight to his forward foot.
He was active in the Central Maine Seniors for a number of years, a past member of the Rockland Golf Club, and a charter member of the Union Country Club, where he also served as president.
He was the devoted grandfather to Daniel Aho, now a sergeant with the U.S. Marines. He and Dan shared a love of baseball. One of his greatest pleasures was following Dan as he progressed from Little League through American Legion Baseball.
In addition to his beloved wife of 61 years, Nina Brann Aho, he is survived by two sons, Hank Aho and life partner Glenice Skelton of Washington, and Ron Aho and wife Pattie of Newcastle; grandson, Sgt. Daniel Aho, U.S. Marine Corp, presently of Bamako, Mali, West Africa; brother, Kauko Aho and wife Violet of Schoharie, N.Y.; favorite niece, Kathleen Buschinski and husband Tom of Schoharie, N.Y.; nephew, Brian Aho and wife Joan and their daughter Alana of Esperence, N.Y.; several brothers and sisters in-law and their families; long-time special fishing and hunting companions, Leo Laukka and Bruce Laukka; and three “grand-dogs” and one cat.
In keeping with his wishes there will be no visiting hours or funeral service.
The family will have a memorial service at a time and place to be named at a later date.
Gifts in Bruno’s memory can be made to the Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.
