Requiescat in Pace
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Bruno Gibson, O.P., who died on Sunday, March 11, 2024.
He was born Rodney Gibson in San Francisco on November 7, 1931 to Mary and Frank Gibson (deceased). He is the brother of Frank (Barbara, deceased) Gibson, Gael (John, deceased) Davitt, and Happy Kramer; loving “Uncle Brunie” to Terry Davitt, Laure (Jim) Healy, Vincent (Monica) Davitt, Michael (Alison) Davitt , Patrick Gibson, Jerry Gibson, Tad Gibson, Sean Kramer, Brien (Sarah) Kramer, Kevin (Chrissy) Kramer, Colin Kramer (deceased), Karin (Kevin) Haskell, and Eileen Kramer (deceased); and great-uncle to 19 nieces and nephews for whom he Celebrated countless weddings, confirmations, first communions and baptisms.
Fr. Bruno graduated from St. James High School in 1949, and then from the University of San Francisco with a post-graduate degree in Architecture from Stanford University in 1953. He entered the Western Dominican Province in August of 1953, and studied philosophy and theology in River Forest, Illinois, and at the Priory of St. Albert the Great in Oakland. After ordination on June 10, 1960, he served as a campus minister at the University of Oregon, where he helped design a new campus ministry chapel. As pastor at St. Dominic’s Church in San Francisco from 1981-1985 his background in architecture was instrumental in adding the flying buttresses to St. Dominic's church, which likely saved the structure during the 1989 earthquake. Up until a few months before his death he faithfully served the parishioners at St. Mary Magdalen mission church, Bolinas.
Fr. Bruno had a great sensitivity to the beauty discovered in nature, music and poetry. He also found beauty in the mysteries of faith, and he contemplated them and preached about them with enthusiastic joy. He read theology as if it were mystical poetry, speaking to his heart.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
San Francisco, California – St. Dominic Church
- Funeral Vigil - Monday, March 18 at 7:30 pm
- Funeral Mass - Tuesday, March 19 at 10:30 am
Benicia, California – St. Dominic Cemetery
- Burial – Tuesday, March 19 at 1:00 pm
To make a gift in memory of Fr. Bruno Gibson, please use the form below. It is a tradition of the Order of Preachers to establish a fund in the name of each of our departed brothers. Your donation to this memorial fund will support the education of our Dominican brothers still in formation, continuing the faithful legacy of our departed brother. It is a lasting tribute to Fr. Bruno and a gift to the Dominican students who study in his footsteps.
