Each year the Association names one or two outstanding Alumni as the recipient of an Outstanding Alumnus Award to be presented at the Annual Banquet.
2026 OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS DAVE BRUNO, CLASS OF 1969
Dave Bruno, class of 1969, is a retired Research Fellow from Procter & Gamble, a dedicated family man, and a longtime community leader known for his contributions to youth development, philanthropy, and public service.
He is married to Margy Conditt, who was a Women’s Health Category Manager when she retired from Procter & Gamble, followed by 6 years of public service as a State Representative serving Ohio’s 52nd District. Margy and Dave both share a strong commitment to family and community. They have two children: son Josh Bruno, an Eagle Scout, Virginia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, and General Manager of Finn All Seasons, and daughter Holly Bruno, a Miami University accounting graduate, and a Purchasing Specialist at Cresent Park. Dave and Margy are proud grandparents to Mary Jane Sparkman, Gunner Bruno, and Maddie Bruno.
As an outstanding student and athlete at Bellaire High School, Dave graduated as valedictorian. He excelled in football, wrestling, and earned recognition as the John Lambrose Most Underrated Football Player from the Big Red Touchdown Club. He played offensive tackle in the 1969 OVAC All-Star Football Game pitting Ohio against West Virginia. Beyond sports, he served as sports editor of the Talisman yearbook, received the Rensselaer Math & Science Award, the Americanism & Government Award, and was named an Outstanding Teenager of America. He was a Boys State alternate, participated in varsity, dance, marching, and pep band, belonged to Quill & Scroll, T hespians and remains a lifetime member of the Bellaire High School Alumni Association.
Dave chose to pursue higher education via an academy scholarship earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology in 1973, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He received the A.W. Smith Award for the highest GPA in his junior and senior years in chemical engineering. During his junior year, he was inducted into the engineering honor society and served as Vice President. He later completed a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 1979 with Highest Honors.
Dave also used his wrestling talents mastered at Bellaire High School at Case Institute where he wrestled at the first team varsity level.
His professional career spanned 36 years at Procter & Gamble from June 1973 until his retirement in August 2009. In research and development, he focused on developing process technology for new food and beverage products. He holds 9 United States patents and advanced to Associate Director and Manager of Process Technology for 10 years, followed by 11 years as Research Fellow in Process Technology. He also contributed to the development of roasting technology for Folgers coffee and JIF peanut butter, enabling superior product quality, and creating patented process technology for Procter & Gamble. He handled international technology procurement for food and beverage categories and spent his f inal decade before retirement in China and other parts of Asia from India to Singapore, developing technologies for Pringles and establishing local Pringles production lines. He authored over 100 internal publications documenting key technological and product innovations as well as academically publishing his work.
Deeply rooted in his faith, Dave is a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, where he has served as a Eucharistic Minister and has been active in youth ministries, including “Scouting as Catholic Youth Ministry.” The Catholic Church recognized his outstanding service to youth with the Bronze Pelican award in 2009 and the St. George Emblem in 2013. In 1994, he and Margy founded Boy Scout Troop #944 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, where he served as Scoutmaster from 1994 to 2002. He led contingents to National Jamborees in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2013, and participated as an adult leader in World Scout Jamborees in T hailand, England, Sweden, Japan, and T he Summit in West Virginia. He has served as International Liaison for the Dan Beard Council, led national delegations representing the Boy Scouts of America at events in Switzerland, Colombia, and England, and has been on the Dan Beard Council Board of Directors since 2009, including serving as Vice President. His contributions earned him the Silver Beaver award and the Vigil Honor from the Order of the Arrow/ Through his efforts, he has helped more than 100 young people achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Dave has served on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of West Chester & Liberty since 2016, after an advisory role in 2015–2016. He was Head of Governance, Vice Chairman, and Chairman, playing a pivotal role in growing the foundation’s asset base to over $30 million and enhancing community quality of life through initiatives in workforce development, transportation, and overall well-being.
During his life and especially in retirement, Dave has focused on creating lasting memories with his family and grandchildren—Mary Jane, Gunner, and Maddie—while continuing to make a positive impact especially on his community. By devoting his time and God-given talents to initiatives that nurture youth and wisely steward his abundant blessings, he has created meaningful lasting change. Dave has been blessed and believes it is very important that he share those blessings to make a difference.
The Recipient(s) of the award shall be honored by the Association at the banquet held as a part of the Annual Membership Meeting, and shall have their photograph mounted and displayed in Bellaire High School along with past recipients of the Award.
Nominations may be made by any member if the Association by writing in letter form the name of the person to be nominated, the field of endeavor in which they have excelled, and an outline or resume of their achievements, activities and other accomplishments which brings honor to themselves and Bellaire High School. All written nominations must be submitted to a member of the Board of Trustees, or postmarked, not later than the second day of January of the year in which the award is to be given.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2025 Glenn Maxwell ‘54,
2024 Jack Cera ‘74, Government
2023 Norman Balsei, Tradesman/Craftsman
2022 Kathy Wallace ‘70, Business
2021 Pandemic, no banquet, no recipient
2020 Pandemic, no banquet, no recipient
2019 Connie Crozier Bobo ‘68, Commercial Real Estate Broker to ALS Advocate
2018 Carolyn Presutti Davidson ‘78, Broadcasting
2017 Colonel Carl C. Johnson, Jr. ‘44, Government/Military
2016 Richard (Chad) Balwanz '70 Military Service
2015 Harold Lee Brown '63, Health Care
2014 F. William Banig '71, Government
2013 Robert I. Wallace '55, Education, Humanitarian
2012 Thomas Poe ‘68, Banking & Civic
2011 Dr. Charles T. Mehlman ’80, Medicine
2010 Kathy Hyett ‘71, Public Relations
2009 Martin F. Goetze ‘54, Health Care and Executive Management
2008 L. Dean Giacometti, ‘38, Education
2007 James B. Piatt '83 , Higher Education
2006 Donald A. Ostasiewski '58, Higher Education
2005 Daniel Frizzi, Jr. '70, Civic
2004 Gary Hill, Education
2003 Nancy Crooks Karvellis '66, Business
2002 Walter M. Calinger '57, Education
2001 Dr. James E. Austin '51, Dentistry
2000 Terry Allen Wallace '65, Administration
1999 Jules J. Duga, Ph.D. '49, Technology and Society
1998 Emil George Riedel, Jr. '50, National Security
1997 Dr. Rose Z. Starr '60, Teacher/Social Worker
1996 Judge John J. Malik, Jr. '46, Law
1995 Joseph A. Pitts, Sr., D.O. '49, Medicine
1994 Donald M. Knox '50, Education
1993 Alan E. Riedel '48, Law/Business
1992 Thomas E. Rataiczak '64, Education
1991 Robert L. Hill '49, Law/Public Service
1990 Daniel Howard Simpson '57, Govt./Public Service, U.S.Ambassador
1989 Dr. Samuel Evans '57, Intl. and Public Insurance, Adjusting, Consulting
1988 Nelson Lancione '36, Law
1987 Metta Miller '69, Advertising/Business
1986 Charles Tod Goodwin '31, Athletics/Military Service
1985 Kelley Archer '40, Civic Achievement/Law
1984 Dr. Peter Lancione '28, Medicine
1983 Benjamin J. Belt '11, Education
1982 Don Ault '47 and Joe Ault '53, Athletics
1981 Mary Fitch '31, Civic Achievement; Lou Mahacek '31,Commercial Art
1980 John Nosker '29, Banking
1979 Hilda Humes Burrows '22, Public Service/Education
1978 William R. Yost '44, Major General, U.S. Air Force
1977 A. G. Lancione '24, Ohio State Representative
1976 J. E. Giffin '16 and Lela Daugherty Giffin '14, Banking/Americanism
1975 Albert V. Noice '17, Banking/Education
1974 James DeBlasis '49, Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera
1973 Frank W. Ault '39, Captain, U.S. Navy
1972 Velma Workman '14, Education
1971 Joe Mack '16, Public Service
1970 David Myers Creamer '23, Medicine
1969 Michael Basrak ‘31, Coaching/Education
1968 George Tyler ‘23, Law; Eleanor Tyler ‘29, Education
1967 Oliver E. Miles ‘25, Business
1966 Dr. W. J. Shepard ‘09, Medicine
1965 Robert Frank Aldridge, Business
1964 Dr. J. F. Wilkinson ‘10, Medicine
1963 Dr. George W. Watt ‘27, Chemistry
1962 Nick Skorich ‘39, Professional Football Coach
1961 Alfred Garrett ‘24, Education
1960 Navy Lt. Raymond H. Dick ‘38, Atomic Powered Submarines
1959 Rabbi Feinberg ‘16, Author
1958 Lane W. Lancaster ‘10, Political Science
1957 James H. McGregor, Education
1956 Walter Russell ‘10, Bio-Chemistry Research
1955 Mabel Cratty 1884, National Secretary, YWCA
1954 Bessie Hoge 1884, Missionary
1953 Erven Somerville ‘26, Major, U.S. Army