Richard Peter Bruso

Richard Bruso, a lifelong resident of Cornwall, Vermont, passed away on March 12, 2026 at the age of 79 on the same DeLong Road where he was born on August 29, 1946. He was the son of Willard and Emily (Messer) Bruso.

A proud son of Vermont, Richard dedicated his life to hard work, the land, and his community. He served as a Vietnam War veteran with the Vermont National Guard engineering unit, building essential roads in South Vietnam. Upon returning home, he continued his life of service as the dedicated Sexton of The Evergreen Cemetery in West Cornwall for over half a century, following generations of his family. A master craftsman, he took great pride in digging graves by hand to precise dimensions and often spoke with quiet dignity of being the last person many would see on this Earth.

Inspired by his childhood near Jud Severy’s Every Wind Farm, Richard long dreamed of becoming a farmer with a herd of Jersey milkers. Though he worked tirelessly to acquire land, tractors, equipment, and even built a dairy barn, that full-scale dairy farm remained just beyond reach, a reflection he shared openly with friends. He loved telling stories of his life, passing on his strong work ethic and his firm opinions on the right way to run a farm.

He is survived by his beloved community in Cornwall, many friends, and his faithful companions in the fields, along with several cousins.