James Nicholas Bruinooge

James N. Bruinooge, 90, passed away on June 23, 2022, in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. A fisherman from the day he was born on March 29, 1932, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Lena (Hartman) Bruinooge from Lodi, NJ.

Jim was the loving husband of the late Helen (Williamson) Bruinooge, devoted father to Lois Bruinooge (husband Dan Mullins) and Alan Bruinooge (wife Kathy), proud grandfather to Kyle Bruinooge (wife Erica), Peter Bruinooge (fiancé Julianna Chudler), Hanna Holcomb (partner Parker Herlihy), Ian Bruinooge and Ethan Holcomb, and caring great-grandfather to Callum Bruinooge. Jim was predeceased by his brother Jacob and is survived by his beloved sister Carol Bruinooge, sister-in-law Berta Bruinooge, nephews Eric and Evan Bruinooge and their families and brother-in-law Richard Williamson (wife Sandie).

Jim grew up fishing and hunting in an era when children learned self-reliance, independence, and resilience early in life. Those traits defined him and gave him strength until the day he died, and he lived a long and rich life because of them.

He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and served most of his time in France, with enough basketball prowess to play on an Army traveling team. After the war he returned to New Jersey and met the love of his life, Helen, while working at Rutherford National Bank. They married in 1960 and were together until Helen’s death in 2019, raising their family, walking Cape beaches and traveling the world on cruise ships.

During his long and distinguished career at the bank (which merged with National Community Bank and then Bank of New York), Jim was a leader in the burgeoning field of bank security. From designing camera layouts and installing bulletproof glass, to developing anti-kidnapping plans for bank executives, Jim worked closely with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey and New York for almost 30 years.

After retiring, he and Helen moved to Wellfleet in 1987 and he began his second career on the waters of the Cape. Jim grew oysters and clams on his shellfish grant and was 2nd man on his brother Jake’s lobster boat for more than a decade.

Whether in New Jersey or Wellfleet, Jim made it a priority to give back to his community. As a lifeguard and volunteer fireman he saved lives, and as a youth football coach and active church member he had a positive impact on countless others.

Through it all, Jim’s family and friends came first (as long as the fish weren’t biting). He and Helen loved watching their children and grandchildren perform or compete, and they rarely missed a concert, recital or sporting event. They loved nothing better than to host the entire family on the Cape, and we all looked forward to being there.

Jim’s family would like to thank his friends for their love and support, particularly over the last three years. Jim’s life was enriched beyond measure by his friends from church, his gym and breakfast/lunch crew, his best fishing buddy and wife, and his neighborhood friends. We hope you all know how much you meant to him.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, from 1 – 2 pm at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will follow at 2 pm at the Funeral Home. www.nickersonfunerals.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim’s memory to the Wellfleet Shellfishermen’s Association, PO Box 756, Wellfleet, MA 02667 or to the Cape Cod Chapter of Trout Unlimited at www.capecodtu.org/donate-to-cctu