Bruno Femia

Bruno Femia, age 84, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2022, at home in Columbus, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family. Preceded in death by his parents, Giuseppe “Joe” Femia and Clorinda “Nana” Sardenell Femia, and sister, Rose Femia (Ralph) Wilson. Survived by his wife of 55 years, Ann Upson Femia; son, Christian (Kelley) Femia, and daughter, Andrea Femia Garvey; five grandchildren, Dominick Femia, Isabella “Bella” Garvey, Anthony Femia, Alexis “Lexi” Garvey, and Corinne Femia; brother, Dominick (Virginia) Femia, and sister, Francesca (James) Hahn.

Bruno was born on November 25, 1937 in Bishop, VA and lived in McComas, WV as a little boy. He spent the rest of his childhood through early adulthood in Mansfield, OH. In Bruno’s words: “Had one, incredible, charming journey because of sport, and all relationships at John’s Park, Bowman School, John Simpson Junior High, and Mansfield Senior High…all in Mansfield, Ohio!” He graduated high school in 1955, where he was very involved as a class officer, and in sports and clubs. He played multiple sports, but his true love was baseball. He told many stories of the teams he played on and the players he loved and respected. He was a proud member of the Mansfield Tygers State Championship baseball team in 1954, and the Mansfield Farmers Bank “The Bankers” semi-pro baseball team that won the Ohio title in 1964.

Bruno attended The Ohio State University on a baseball scholarship and was a dedicated student. He loved to recount stories from college, especially being a student of Woody Hayes. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1963. Bruno went on to get his Master of Arts in Educational Administration from OSU, alongside Ann, in 1969.

Bruno was proud to be an educator. His tenure included: Medina Junior High (Teacher), Ridgeview Junior High (Teacher and Coach), Northland Academy (Principal), Madison Rural and Mt Sterling Elementary schools concurrently (Principal), from which he retired in 1995. He left a lasting impact on many lives throughout his career.

Bruno treasured his family and friends. He always had a story or a life lesson to share. His collection of photos, letters, notes, and books were precious to him. He was a mentor to many, frequently writing words of encouragement or congratulations, sending newspaper clippings or a photo along with a quick note. He will be deeply missed.

“I’ve had a good life. If anyone has had a good life, it’s me.” —Bruno Femia, April 7, 2022

Per Bruno’s wishes, there will not be a formal funeral or memorial service. There will be a private celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, send a note of encouragement or recognition to someone–he would have loved that. Memorial contributions may be made to PSP research http://www.CurePSP.org or The Woody and Anne Hayes Scholarship Fund http://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=603024 .