Tom Bruder Obituary, Death – Philadelphia Businessman and Community Leader, Thomas A. “Tom” Bruder Jr. Remembered at 85

Thomas A. “Tom” Bruder Jr., a longtime Philadelphia-area businessman, devoted husband and father, sports enthusiast and community supporter, died peacefully on January 24, 2022, at the age of 85. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, reflecting the importance that family had throughout his life.

Born in Philadelphia on July 18, 1936, Tom was raised in a large family where faith, loyalty and hard work were deeply valued. Those principles became central to the way he approached both his personal life and his career.

Tom was the oldest of six children born to Thomas A. Bruder Sr. and Mary A. Bruder, née Stitt. His surviving sisters included Mary Ann Flanigan, Patricia Irvine and Janet Tegler. He was preceded in death by his brothers Michael A. Bruder and James J. Bruder, as well as his brother-in-law Al Tegler.

Education and Early Years

Tom attended St. Francis of Assisi School before continuing his education at Waldron Academy. He graduated from Malvern Preparatory School in 1954 and later earned his degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1958.

Notre Dame remained an important part of his life long after college. He maintained a strong connection to the university and later supported its work through his community involvement and philanthropy.

After college, Tom also served in the Army National Guard.

A Lifetime Partnership With Kathleen

Tom’s family was at the center of his life, beginning with his marriage to Kathleen Bruder, née Ryan. The couple shared 61 years of marriage after meeting as high school sweethearts.

Together, they raised six children: Thomas A. Bruder III and his wife Lynn, John A. Bruder, Mary Kate Trusk and her husband Todd, Timothy A. Bruder and his wife Sarah, Christopher J. Bruder and his wife Lisa, and James A. Bruder and his wife Marisa.

Their family eventually grew to include numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including great-granddaughter Kellyn Q. Slagis. Tom was also surrounded by a wide network of nieces, nephews and extended relatives.

His family remembered him not simply as a provider, but as a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose presence remained important across generations.

Growing M.A.B. Paints

Tom’s professional life was closely tied to the family business, M. A. Bruder & Sons, Inc., known as M.A.B. Paints. The company traced its origins to Philadelphia in 1899.

When Tom’s father died in 1967, the 31-year-old Tom assumed the presidency of the company. Alongside his brothers Mike and Jim, he helped guide the business through several decades of expansion.

At the beginning of their leadership, M.A.B. Paints had 18 stores and one manufacturing facility in the Philadelphia region. Under their direction, the company eventually grew to 132 stores across 14 states, with manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Orlando, Florida.

Tom’s leadership was remembered for more than the company’s growth. He maintained an open-door approach that allowed employees, customers and even members of his own family to come to him when they needed advice or help solving a problem.

The company developed a reputation for treating employees as part of the family, reflecting the values Tom had learned while growing up in the Bruder household.

After approximately four decades of family ownership and management, M.A.B. Paints was sold in 2007.

A Passion for Sports

Sports were another major part of Tom’s life.

As a young man, he competed in track and played football. Later, he became an enthusiastic supporter of numerous teams and sports, including Notre Dame football, Villanova basketball and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Golf became one of his most enduring passions. Tom was a longtime member of Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, where he belonged for 60 years. He also maintained a 54-year membership at Indian Creek Country Club in Miami, Florida.

For Tom, those clubs represented more than golf. The friendships he developed with members and staff became part of his extended circle.

His interest in lacrosse also grew through his sons. After watching them play the sport, he became increasingly involved and in 1982 sponsored what was described as the first club lacrosse team in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The organization became the MAB Paints Lacrosse Club and regularly competed in the Vail Lacrosse Shoot Out Tournament. The club later won championships in 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2002.

Memories of Longport

Longport, New Jersey, was another important part of Tom’s life. He spent summers there from an early age and developed a lasting love of boating, fishing and the shore.

Those traditions eventually became family traditions as well.

The family’s Longport beach home, known as “Sand Swept,” became a gathering place for relatives and friends. Tom was particularly fond of entertaining and bringing people together, with family tent parties becoming memorable occasions for generations of guests.

The beach provided a setting where Tom could step away from business and enjoy the people and activities that mattered most to him.

Community and Philanthropic Work

Tom also dedicated significant time and resources to organizations connected to healthcare, education and athletics.

His community involvement included support for Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital, Riddle Hospital and Main Line Health. He also maintained connections with Malvern Prep, Neumann University, the University of Notre Dame and Villanova University, including its Development Council.

His interests in sports and education also led him to support the Maxwell Football Club.

Through these commitments, Tom extended the same principles of service and responsibility that shaped his family and professional life.

Remembering Tom Bruder

Thomas A. Bruder Jr.’s life was defined by several enduring commitments: family, business, sports, friendship and service.

He took responsibility for a major family business while still in his early 30s and helped turn M.A.B. Paints into a company with a much broader regional and national presence. Yet his professional accomplishments were only one part of the story.

For Kathleen, he was a husband of 61 years. For his six children and their families, he was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. For friends and colleagues, he was a listener, mentor and leader who was willing to open his door when someone needed help.

His love of golf, lacrosse, football, basketball, baseball and summers in Longport gave him interests and friendships that extended well beyond his working life.

Funeral and Memorial Service

Family and friends gathered to honor Tom on January 28, 2022, at St. Katharine of Siena Church in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Visitation was held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment was private, with arrangements also made for the Mass to be livestreamed for those unable to attend.

Tom Bruder leaves behind a legacy that reaches across his family, the business he helped build, the sporting organizations he supported and the many community institutions that benefited from his involvement.

His 85 years were marked by a strong belief in family, hard work and giving back. Those values continued to shape the people and organizations he touched long after his business career had ended.