LABRUZZA, Gabriel Matthew (Gabe)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 Gabriel Matthew LaBruzza, 79, of Prescott and Chino Valley, Ariz., passed away Friday, July 12, 2013, in Prescott. Gabe was born March 26, 1934, to Vincent and Maria (Scrudato) LaBruzza at the SoHo Hospital in Belleville, N.J. Gabe was the owner of LaBruzza's Italian Ristorante on Iron Springs Road and was beloved by all his customers. He greeted everyone with a big, "Hi. How you doing? Thanks for coming in." Gabe attended Utah State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree. He then served in the Air Force during the Korean War as an aircraft mechanic stationed in Japan. Gabe had two children, James Vincent and Mathew Gabriel, with Sue Lacey Miller, whom he divorced. Gabe came to Prescott in 1988 with $500 in his pocket and opened his first restaurant, LaBruzza Italian Ristorante, on White Spar Road, which in later years relocated to his current location on Iron Springs Road. His loyal customers followed Gabe and enjoyed the finest Italian Cuisine in Northern Arizona. In his spare time, Gabe enjoyed gardening, baseball, sports especially boxing and spending time with his family and friends who will all miss him dearly. Gabe is survived by his sons James LaBruzza (Mariko) and Matt LaBruzza (Jen), and their children Nathan and Lucas; his brothers Vincent, U.S. Army Korea (Raffaela), Sal, U.S. Air Force WWII (Gloria); sister Nancy LaBruzza; nieces and nephews, Anthony, Robert, Billy, Jimmy, Paul, Joseph, Angela, Marie, Kathy, Joseph, Maryann, Vincent, Christine. Gabe was predeceased by his brothers Frank, U.S. Army, Silver Star WWII and Joseph, U.S. Army Silver Star WWII and two sisters Mary and Pam. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 19, 2013, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with interment at the Veterans Cemetery in Prescott. A reception at Sacred Heart will follow the interment ceremony at the VA Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Gabe's memory to our Prescott Fire Department Hotshot survivor Brendan McDonough Charity Fund at any Wells Fargo Branch, or to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. The Hampton Funeral Home of Prescott was entrusted with Gabe's arrangements. Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhome.com to sign his guestbook. Information provided by survivors.