Travis Anthony Bruni passed away on Friday, July 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was only 30 years old, but in those three decades, he lived a life full of love, music, learning, independence, and happiness.
Travis was born on November 3, 1993, in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Saint Mary’s Hall, then transferred to and graduated from TMI. Travis was working toward a bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and was proud of his progress toward his degree.
Travis’s interest in computer science went well beyond his formal education, though. He was lugging around a C++ codebook before he even started school and was coding simple video games by first grade. From there, he was hooked. Travis taught himself everything he could about computer hardware, software, programming, networking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and more. He had been looking into cybersecurity as a potential career path after years of considering software engineering.
Music was another one of Travis’s lifelong passions. He was an incredibly talented musician with a natural ear and appreciation for the skill involved in the craft. Starting music classes at age 3, he progressed to piano lessons and then to learning other instruments, such as the guitar, synthesizer, drums, and even the mandolin. In 2009, with the encouragement of his grandmother (Grandma A), Travis tried out for and was selected to attend the exclusive Interlochen Arts Academy summer camp for guitar, an accomplishment that gave him a great sense of pride. Travis was known for rocking out on guitar solos to classic songs like “Sweet Child of Mine” in his teenage years. Lately, he had liked to jam to “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix, his favorite musician.
While music and technology were two of Travis’s favorite things, he had many other interests. He was genuinely curious about the world and learned absolutely everything he could about any topic he found interesting, including video games, western movies, World War II, the Alamo, astronomy, and even knockoff Nike shoes. His most recent interest was learning about sailboats. A lifelong learner, Travis was intelligent, thoughtful, and opinionated. He didn’t shy away from in-depth debates and was an enthusiastic conversation partner.
Travis was the little brother to Justin Bruni. Only two years apart in age, the boys grew up together playing paintball and video games and roughhousing with their dad. Their family loved taking trips together. Trapped in the car with each other, Travis would, of course, always take the opportunity to pepper his mom with questions about how the world works.
In his best man speech for Justin’s wedding, Travis said that he hoped he would find a picture-perfect love worthy of envy. He found that love just two years later with Heather Burdges. Over the past five years, Travis and Heather had built a happy home and active life together in Colorado with their dog, Chloe, hiking in the snow, camping under the stars, and watching thunderstorms pass.
Travis loved being an uncle, probably because he was still a kid at heart. He was fond of Spongebob Squarepants and Pokémon—his favorite character was Charizard. His nephew, Jack, loved when Uncle Travis would visit, and Travis looked forward to teaching him how to play guitar and Minecraft. Travis also loved all of his cousins. He said some of his favorite memories were spending the holidays at home in Texas and visiting with all of his extended family under one roof.
Despite his personal struggles, Travis had a huge heart and was incredibly generous. He was hilarious and loving, talented and thoughtful, intelligent and kind, and the best brother, son, boyfriend, dog dad, uncle, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend we could have asked for. We will think of him often and miss him more than he could ever imagine.
Travis is survived by his parents, Robert John and Alice Bruni; his girlfriend, Heather Burdges; his grandmothers, Anne Buffington (Richard) and Mary Ann Bruni; his brother, Justin (Molly); his nephew, Jack, and niece, Riley; his aunts, Katy (Tommy), Liz, Jackie (Don), Natalia (Brett), and Bonnie (John); his uncle, R. Joseph II; and his cousins, Jonathon, Fina, Pearl, Lizzi, Emma, Olivia, Dean, Audrie, and Charlotte. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert Joseph Bruni, and his great-aunt, Larka Hundley.
Travis’s family welcomes everyone to a celebration of life to be held at The Club at Sonterra on Saturday, August 24, from 2-5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Matthew Perry Foundation. As the family puts together a playlist for the celebration of life, they ask for anyone to send songs that remind them of Travis to his mom at
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIOCOMPARTA
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