Obituary of Bruce Allen Alpert

Bruce Allen Alpert, Candor, NY, died peacefully July 24, 2016. Born in King Ferry, NY on Nov. 3, 1940. Bruce spent many of his years with his grandmother and uncles in Ithaca and and with extended families in Ithaca, Danby, Newfield and Candor, NY. Always working, Bruce was employed in many trades beginning as a Truck Driver and Packer at Mapes and Dean of Ithaca/Mayflower. In Ithaca and with a growing family, he added a second job working with Dave and Sal Pirro at their Pizzeria next door to Big Jims on Green St.. Putting a lighted “Pizza” sign on top of his car, a C.B. radio inside and charging a flat fee, this new service replaced the need to call a Taxi, which was the norm, to get full menu food delivery up on campus and around the city. It has been noted that this type of delivery service was a “A First Ever” starting with Dave, Sal and Bruce in downtown pre-urban renewal Ithaca. Moving to Caroline Center and owning a house soon led to a having skills he never knew he had and so he became a carpenter and one which led him to Journeyman working for the most part with John C. Lowery Inc. crew and family. Bruce being an industrious worker at whatever he did, subscribed to “if you have to work, you gotta have some fun” and probably why he carried nicknames given to him by friends and family as “Buster”, “little Jesus” and “Turd”. Always one to go help a friend with “projects” and much to his wife’s dismay, who’s own kitchen had uninstalled kitchen cabinet doors left sitting and waiting in the workshop for many years. After venturing to Arizona and back to NY and into Cayuga Cty., adding the enjoyment of golfing, hunting and fishing, at age 54, Bruce suffered a stroke ending his working career. As a testament to his fortitude and character, he continued to find enjoyment with his friends and took pleasure in what he found he could do and some he shouldn’t have done, but did them just the same. Moving back to the Village of Candor, he found the freedom to move around on his garden tractor, to entertain and be entertained by old and new friends. Disabilities may have slowed him down but never took him out of the game. Family, gardening, traveling and sharing a few beers on a regular basis with friends remained on his agenda. A life well lived and who shared it all with his family and those who came to love him for being who he was; A really good guy. Bruce is predeceased by his adoptive family who loved him as a son and brother, Alfred and Mary Slater and 3 of their children, Eugene, Joyce and Denise. He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years Florence (Slater), daughter Renee L. (Alpert) Chase, Winchester, Va., two Grandsons, Travis (Seminole, FL) and Michael Chase (Winchester, VA), son Bruce Joseph A. Alpert (Candor, NY), Granddaughter Andrea Alpert and Great Grandson Acee (Cato,NY). His Brother-In-Law Donald Slater (Candor, NY) and Sister-In-Law Emily (Slater) Aman (Interlaken, NY) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who loved their Uncle Bruce. Bruce is also predeceased by his Maternal Grandmother Ann Stephens and Sister Darlene “Dip” (Alpert) Rose. He is survived by his sister Darlene’s children Debra, Dennis “Punk”, Denise and Susie, brother Donald Alpert and children Rhonda and Dion, brother George Benjamin and sisters Gloria Westmiller and Donna Scaffe and their families. Funeral services will be at Estey, Munroe and Fahey Funeral Home, 137 Main St., Candor, NY, on Friday, July 29, 2016 at 1:00 PM with Rev. Philip Jordan officiating and calling hours from 11:00 to 12:45 PM. Interment will be held by the family at a later date. Those wanting to commemorate Bruce are asked to make a donation to Riverview Manor Nursing Home, 510 Fifth Ave., Owego, NY 13827, Att: Debbie or to the Candor Emergency Squad, PO Box 141, Candor, NY 13743 both which made a difference in Bruce’s last years. Those wishing may visit www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com to send a sympathy message to the family.