Bruce Lawrence Pecaro

Bruce Pecaro, age 81, of Naples, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born on July 31, 1943, in Waukegan, Illinois, Bruce lived a life full of heart, humor, and an extraordinary gift for turning strangers into lifelong friends.

He graduated from Marquette University, and married the love of his life, Diana Jean Welker in 1965. Their 48 years together were filled with love, laughter, and shared dreams - often centered around their legendary Sunday pasta dinners. They built a beautiful family and a successful business, Nursefinders, which reflected their entrepreneurial drive and their commitment to caring for others.

Bruce was known for his tenacity and larger-than-life personality. He approached everything with optimism and lived by his favorite saying: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” Every morning, he started his day with a cup of coffee and CNBC, ready to talk about the stock market, a new business idea, or offer his classic free advice.

He had a deep love for golf and spent years playing alongside his four brothers—Bernard, Vince, Victor, and the late Gordon Glenz. His game was as spirited as his personality, and he earned bragging rights with wins including the Exmoor Heritage Cup, Bob O’Link’s Hullabaloo, and other titles at Old Collier and Glen Flora. With a cocktail in hand, he could recite everyone’s shots and scores on every hole to the amazement of many.

One of Bruce’s greatest joys was sharing his passions with his 17 grandchildren. He loved teaching them chess, tic-tac-toe, card games like Bridge, Gin, and Poker, laughing as they picked up strategies and developed their own competitive streaks. On the golf course, he was their biggest fan, offering advice and cheering them on with pride in every lesson and round played together.

Sunday dinners at Bruce’s house were an open invitation. Whether you were a family friend, neighbor, golf buddy, or someone his kids brought home from school, you could count on a warm welcome, a glass of wine, and a meal that left you full in every sense of the word.

Bruce leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter. He is survived by his ex-wife, Karen Pecaro; his five children, Highwood Mayor Charlie (Jessica) Pecaro, Victoria (Ron) Alberts, Ben (Maria) Pecaro, Daniel (Kelly) Pecaro, and Nicole (Zack Bannor) Pecaro; his 17 grandchildren, Patrick, Jeffrey, Alexandra, Frank, Anthony, Joseph, Adrianna, Stefani, Alissa, Leni, Dominic, Penelope, Alexander, Reese, Wells, Juliana, and Harlan; and his brothers, Bernard, Vince, and Victor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Diana Pecaro, his brother Gordon Glenz, and his parents, Dr. Bernard and Bertha Pecaro.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating blood or making a donation to the American Red Cross. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 10th, 2025, from noon to 2pm at Glen Flora Country Club at 2200 N Sheridan Rd, Waukegan, IL 60087 and an additional Service in Naples Florida on November 8th at St. John’s Evangelist Church, 625 111th Ave N, Naples, Florida followed by a celebration of Bruce’s life at one of his favorite restaurants, Enzo’s.