RICHARD BRUTON’S sudden and unexpected death on March 30th has left a huge void in the lives of all those who knew and loved him. To his family, to whom he was devoted, he is truly irreplaceable, and his wide circle of friends also feels his loss keenly.
Richard was born on February 22nd, 1948. He was raised in Sandymount and attended Roslyn Park primary school. He progressed to Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, a school with which he retained fond links throughout his life, seldom missing its annual past-versus-present cricket match. He took a degree in mechanical engineering in University College Dublin.
His first employment was with Wavin Pipes in Balbriggin and, while working there, he did a Master’s in industrial engineering in UCD. For most of his working life, he was self-employed, working as a consulting engineer. He did a lot of work for the ESB and one of his notable working achievements was with Newbridge Ropes, a company which had not been doing well until he helped to turn its fortunes around.
Richard had a number of passions in life. One was car rallying and he travelled all over the country taking part in events. He acted as navigator at a time when neither the roads nor the general conditions of the sport would have been as good as they are now. “Grier and Bruton” are still remembered for their achievements and he had an impressive array of trophies on display at home to show the level of their success.
He gave up this dangerous pastime shortly after marrying, but retained a great skill for doing handbrake turns, much to the delight of his children and the chiding of his disapproving wife.
Richard’s father and uncle both played cricket for Phoenix Cricket Club and Richard played his first game for the club when he was in his final year at school. This was the beginning of a 45-year devotion to the club, which culminated in his becoming its president in 2009.
He committed much time and endeavour to setting up and running the youth section of the club and it has continued to thrive on the back of his dedicated and selfless efforts. One of his final services to the club was to gather together, frame and hang in the pavilion its collection of historic photographs. For the past number of years, he had also kept – singlehandedly – his local Birchall’s taverners’ team going.
Richard has left behind an impressive record of service to his community. He was chairman of his local residents’ association for several years and fought many successful campaigns on his neighbours’ behalf. He coached a number of under-age soccer teams for his local Beechwood FC, being in at the beginning of that very successful club.
Politics was in his blood. His grandfather (also Richard) was a founder member of Fine Gael in the greater Dublin area; and politicians John and Richard Bruton were his second cousins. He had a deep interest in history, especially 20th-century Irish history, and read widely on the second World War. He was a gentle, genial man, who loved to socialise, and his marked laughter wrinkles showed his strong sense of fun. His house was open to neighbours and friends and he was always a most generous host and engaging companion.
The chief passion in his life was his family: his wife Marion and sons John and Michael, to whom, our sincerest sympathy. Not even death can extinguish the warmth of his love for them. Our sympathy also to his sisters, Jane and Mary, and extended family.
“Through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond.” Farewell, dear friend.
– BM