ICOM Lore

Anecdotes about ICOM, Inc., a software automation company, last located in West Allis, Wisconsin (1985-1994).

The intention is to have volunteers contribute their memories. Over the course of time, one person's memory is not always the same as someone else's memory, and may not even be accurate. But it might be entertaining anyway…

The volunteers can be virtually anyone, an ICOM employee, distributor, customer, vendor, or even competitor. But, there needs to be some rules:

1) We cannot intentionally do anything that might violate trademarks or copyrights held by Rockwell Automation or others.
2) The intention is to post fond memories of ICOM, not memories that might embarrass, humiliate, or otherwise hurt someone's feelings. Of course, this goes for photographs as well.

To reconnect with former ICOM employees, we suggest using LinkedIn.com.

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Farewell to Jim Bruske

Jim Bruske and Friends

A short while ago I received word from Bill Tye that one of our coworkers, Jim Bruske, passed away last night.

I don't recall exactly when Jim Bruske joined the company, whether we were still ICOM or the newly formed Rockwell Software, but many of the old ICOM crew who've moved on knew him. The photo above was taken in the mid-90s, when Rockwell Software put together a fundraising team to play wheelchair softball. The effort raised money to send a real wheelchair softball team, Jim's, to a tournament. Jim's the big Italian front-and-center in the white shirt.

Throughout his life, Jim was challenged by spina bifida, a disease which may have kept him in a wheelchair, but couldn't touch his warmth and sense of humor.

The wake will be tomorrow (10/29/2004) from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Schmidt & Bartlet Funeral Home, 106 W. Silver Spring Road in Whitefish Bay (414-964-3040).

Tomorrow would have been Jim's birthday. My wife knew Jim since they were in kindergarten, and already mailed a card. Now, sadly, we must mail another.

posted by Dave Ruske @ 1:48 PM  

3 Comments:

  • At 7:03 AM, Blogger Dave Ruske said…

    The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has a nice tribute article on Jim at http://www.jsonline.com/news/nobits/oct04/270508.asp .

     

  • At 1:14 AM, Blogger Nick Orlando said…

    Hello, it is just by chance that I stumbled upon this page. Jim was my uncle, I was his nephew Nick. I was there with him when he died. I just wanted to let you guys know that he spoke of everyone at the company very much, and as my aunt said at his funeral, you truly extended his life. Just know that the time you spent with him, meant the world to him, which now seems cold since he has left. Thanks.

     

  • At 9:30 AM, Blogger Dave Ruske said…

    Thanks, Nick. Your uncle was a good man, and we all miss him very much.

     

Post a Comment

<< Home