Bruce C. Vann Village Park Dedication
Bruce Vann loved Trumansburg. It is a beautiful, thriving village. It is clean and safe with the infrastructure to support growing commercial activity and its residential rhythm.
Bruce was an important part of making it what it is today. He worked for the Village of Trumansburg Department of Public works first as a Laborer, then additionally as the Water System Operator, and eventually as Supervisor.
He was the right man for the job.
He could operate anything with a motor, fix anything with an engine. He had a mechanical mind and was an engineer at heart. He was a historian, a visionary, a manager, a carpenter, a fabricator, an equipment operator, mechanic and liaison. He managed projects, men and equipment often from the bottom of a hole with a shovel in his hand.
Bruce's stewardship saw the Village through many changes and developments bringing it into the 21st century including the new water tower, the Main Street Project, replacement of the Frontenac well pump, the Secondary Water source Project at Taughannock Park, the upgrade and addition to the DPW garage, the coordination of annexed housing developments and additional water districts into village care, and the overall upgrades to the original water system which included the installation of booster pumps at the Corey Street pumphouse, the installation of a new electronic monitoring and alarm system as well as the change to electronic meters and readers. Bruce also helped establish this wildly successful farmers market.
Bruce was often the face of the DPW during many volunteer hours in the village and all manner of contact 24/7regarding village matters that, for one reason or another could not wait until tomorrow. He frequently left family activities to tend to emergencies, both big and small. Our daughter just reminded me that I would tell our girls, "Daddy has to go save the Village".
For 32 years, that he did.
Bruce was the man to call to find out where something had been, who owned it, who worked on it, what happened to it, and an idea about what to do now. Waterlines, buildings, businesses and people.
They say when you lose some people it is like losing a library. With this exceptional man, we certainly have.
Bruce has been described as an "old soul." He was a polite, quiet man with an even temper and few words; he would not use two if one would do.
Naming this park the Bruce C. Vann Village Park is the honor of a lifetime. As a native T-burger born of a native T-burger there is no higher honor for him. Bruce's whole family would like to thank the Mayor, the Village Board, Casey Lincoln, Dusty VanDerzee and the whole DPW team and everyone else involved in making this tribute happen today. We would also like to thank Durand VanDorn for his artistic creation of the arch that bears Bruce's name. It is a beautiful memorial which will carry his name into the future of this exceptional village.
It is true, through his dedication Bruce left his mark on every street corner in this village, especially this one.
Karen M Vann
8/5/2026