R.I.P. Johnny Brietenbruck: Funeral Arrangements will be this Tuesday and Wednesday

I just got the word that another good friend of mine has passed away. Boxer, Ring 8 member, Ring 8 Board Member, Loving Father, and Friend, Johnny Breitenbruck has passed away. He was a tough boxer from Williamsburg, Brooklyn . . . Boxed in the Marines. Beat Jimmy Herring at the Ridgewood Grove Arena . . .In dramatic display of courage, knocked out Gene Salisbury at Ft. Hamilton Arena after spending an hour in frigid waters that afternoon trying to save a drowning boy.

http://www.ring8ny.com/rollcall/index.php?rrn=5

Pictured are Henny Wallitsch, Tony Napoli, Tommy Gallagher, Johnny Breitenbruck, Joe Miceli and Lenny Mangiapane

Donza Funeral Home Inc.

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333 Atlantic Avenue
East Rockaway, NY 11518-1406
(516) 593-2521 ​

Wake will be on Tuesday Aug 10th 2-4 and 7-9

Funeral will be on Wednesday 9:30 am, and we are planning to have a Bell ceremony at that time in his honor.

Johnny Breitenbruck

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=123426&cat=boxer

Record to Date

Won 34 (KOs 12)
Lost 10
Drawn 2
Total 46

Henry

 

I will be at the funeral, as the family has asked me to give a talk and ring the bell 9 times in celebration of his life. If you can make it at that time, maybe we can finally meet.

John E. Breitenbruck Sr.,
Visitation:
Tuesday August 10, 2010 2 - 4pm and 7 - 9pm
Religious service
Tuesday 8 pm
Pastor Stephen Hurkens from Church of the Nazarene, East Rockaway
263 Atlantic Avenue
East Rockaway, New York
Funeral:
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:30 at funeral home for 9:30 am departure to Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton,NY

 

Yesterday I attended the funeral of Johnny and the family asked me if I could do the bell ceremony at the grave site. I said, no problem, then we drove another 60 miles to the grave yard. I had good company as I took the BWAA president Jack Hirsch. The President of Ring 8, Matt Farrago also attend the Bell ceremony.

I left my house in Lodi, New Jersey at 6:30 AM and finally got home at 3:30 PM, close to 200 miles round trip. But just to see the joyful faces of Johnny's family as I gave the Eulogy and rung the Bell "9" times, in celebration of his life, made it all worth while.

Johnny my friend, Rest In Peace!

Also to my pleasant surprise I met Burt Bienstock. He walked in a sat outside the room where Johnny was, so I asked him if he was a member of the family and he said no, I am just an "old fight buff". Then he looked at me and asked, what's your name, I told him and he got up and before he said a word, I said, are you Burt. He said he was and we greeted each other.

I have to say that Burt is a real nice guy and a Class act as we continued to talked for a while. Burt couldn't make the Bell ceremony because of a previous appointment But finally putting a face to his name was a real joy for me.