SFC (Ret) Mark Edward Bruzinski, age 54, of Redding passed away at Danbury Hospital on Friday, June 9, 2023. He was the loving husband of Pamela J. (Giarrantano) Bruzinski.

Born in Bridgeport on March 5, 1969, he was the son of Barbara (Kochis) Bruzinski and the late Edward Bruzinski. Mark was a 1987 graduate of Joel Barlow High School in Redding.  He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in political science from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina.  Building on a proud family history of military service, Mark enlisted in the US Army on February 11,1992 and began a storied 20-year military career. He completed basic training at Ft. Benning, GA., went on to Airborne School, became a Jumpmaster, and earned both an Expert Infantryman Badge as well as a Combat Infantryman Badge. Mark was deployed with 82nd Airborne – 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment to combat 4 times, (twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq) subsequently being awarded a Bronze Star.

Mark had a personality unforgettable to all who met him.  Whether speaking to family, friends or perfect strangers, Mark was always enthusiastic to engage in conversation that could range from lighthearted to weighty.  His curiosity and intellect combined with his incredible sense of wit and humor would assure that those he encountered were never in for a dull time.  Mark loved to sing and would often break into song, at times spontaneously changing the lyrics of a popular tune to suit a situation at hand, all in the interest of getting a laugh out of his audience.  Mark enjoyed sitting by his beloved wood stove on cold nights and took great enjoyment in the process of harvesting the firewood to keep it burning.  Mark was a fisherman, marksman and a patriot. He applied a passionate approach to all that he undertook with a stubborn tenacity.  His devout Catholicism often led to discussions of scripture where he could comfortably quote chapter and verse applicable to the topic at hand.  Above all else, Mark was a family man.  His love for his wife Pamela and his children was boundless.  His appreciation for his idyllic upbringing in Redding was evidenced in countless fond reminiscences of childhood antics with his brothers and large family celebrations.  Mark relished teasing his children with silly stories from their childhood and always lovingly respected his mother Barbara as the "ranking officer" of the family.

Mark is survived by his mother Barbara, his wife Pamela and children Branden, Faydra, Christian and Sophia, his brother Paul and his wife Giselle, his brother Joel and his wife Ashleigh, nieces Elizabeth, Jessica, Anne Marie and Eden, nephews Daniel, Michael and Nathaniel and grandchildren Justin, Emmett and Oliver.  Mark is predeceased by his father Edward, brother Chris, and children Justin and Erin.

Calling hours will be Wednesday (6/14) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bouton Funeral Home in Wilton, CT.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Patrick's Church in Redding, on Saturday (6/17) at 11:00 am followed by an interment with full military honors at Redding Ridge Cemetery.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital in Mark's memory.

To offer online condolences please visit: www.boutonfuneralhome.com