| Date of Birth | February 2, 1956 |
| Date Deceased | June 1, 2024 |
| Hometown | Dansville |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | June 23, 2024 |
| Service Time | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Service Location | Dugo's - Dansville, NY |
Bruce “Eddie” Jackson
Bruce “Eddie” Jackson – 68 of Dansville, NY passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday (June 1, 2024) at Noyes Hospital in Dansville surrounded by family, following a short battle with Lymphoma.
Born February 2, 1956 in Hornell to the late Philomena Scaglione, Bruce is also predeceased by his daughter Emily Ann, mother and father-in-law Alice and Robert Drumm, beloved Aunt Mary Dugo, brother-in-law Steven Drumm, sister-in-law Sharon Hooker and his four legged sidekick, his best girl, Riley.
After Bruce graduated from Hornell High School in 1975, he found himself in Dansville to help Aunt Mary manage The Ideal Restaurant, best known as Dugo’s. He quickly became an active member of the community and decided he and Debbie would marry and make Dansville home where they would raise their children and open more businesses including Jack-Hart Sports World and MainStUSA.
Aside from being a business owner, Bruce dedicated a lot of his extra time to his community serving as Past President of Dansville Rotary, Dansville Business Association, Dan-Way-Co-A Baseball, Dansville Babe Ruth, Dansville Little League and was a NYS 13 Year Tournament Director for Babe Ruth. As an Eagle Scout, Bruce always held the Scouting program close to his heart and volunteered to hold positions such as Day Camp Director, Day Camp Program Director, District Finance Director and Unit Commissioner of Scouting America. He received recognition as Rotarian of the Year as well as the District Award of Merit, District Executive Award, Commissioner Award – Two Year through Scouting America as well.
He held many positions in life from delivering newspapers as a child in Hornell to selling radio ads at WDNY. He was most recently employed for the last 18 years at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack starting as the prep-cook who took his gift of gab to develop relationships so important that he could still remember a guest’s favorite desert more than a decade later as Ambassador Host. The family he created, full of co-workers and guests, held an extremely important place in his heart.
Bruce spent his life between two very important communities where he was able to make life-long friends who filled his heart with the most joy. He had a natural born gift to make everyone feel like family and made sure they all knew they’d have a place at his table. And boy is that table large…
Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Deborah, brother John (Paula) Hooker, children Terah (Joshua) Belke, and Robert, grandchildren Willow, Benjamin, Logan and Ash, brothers-in-law, three nieces, three nephews, one great niece, one great nephew, honorary daughter Jessica (Breanna, Zoe and Blake), several cousins and his old mischievous pup, the best snack buddy a man could have, Bhlue-Boy.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday June 23, 2024 from 12 noon – 4 p.m. at Dugo’s, 127 Main Street Dansville, NY 14437, all are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to KidStart of Mt Morris through ARCglow.com or Wilmont Cancer Institute of Rochester.
The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell is honored to assist Bruce’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrance of Bruce are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
Bruce was a true friend to every person he met. He was that to me, from the first day of third grade at Columbian School. No matter how much time had passed he would greet me with a warm smile and a handshake (and that “Eddie” Jackson hug) and we could catch up in minutes just like time hadn’t passed. A true gentle man. RIP on angels wings. We will meet again for a game of tackle football behind Billy’s house….maybe I will have figured out a way to tackle you by then.
Bruce was the greatest ambassador for Fingerlakes Racetrack! He will be very much missed as he was always ready to assist guests and sit down with them when he had time.
God bless you old friend, I’ll see you after… Thank you for always being there when I needed you the most all those years ago. …From Old man Morf 😪
Bill, Steve & Associates.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts from the Jackson/Drumm family in taking care of my beloved brother in-law Bruce.
I was so glad I was able to assist in is final stages. We go back a long way, from my Dad, Robert L. Drumm to present. You will continue to care for us all in our final stages of life, no doubt. It’s been a tough day for me, having to help cremate my beloved Brother-inlaw- Bruce. But Working for the Cemetery, I had a fantastic assistant Betsy Dupont. Once again, Thank you for your continued support whenever We’ve needed you.
The Family of Robert L. Drumm, and the Bruce Jackson families. God Bless you all!!
To Bruce’s family: I personally did not know Bruce but my late husband Paul attended Colombian school with Bruce. My father Ray LaBarron ran Boy Scout troop 65 and Bruce was one of his first scouts to complete Eagle. I don’t know who was prouder, Bruce, or my father. My father proudly would recall working with Bruce and remembering his drive and determination. Later in life, my husband Paul worked as an adult volunteer for BSA and he would occasionally cross paths with Bruce in that capacity, Paul always enjoyed running into Bruce and reminiscing. Bruce was a good man and will be missed. Sending my condolences.
Our deepest condolences for your loss. Prayers to you all.
Real sorry about Eddie! My friends and I had a lot of fun at Dugo’s back in the day. Sometimes a little too much fun, but Eddie always kept us in line and out of trouble. Eddie will be missed!
Brucey , I knew for years from fingerlakes, I just loved him to pieces , always was the first person i looked for when i got there , I just seen him last thurs when i took my father in for chemo and sat across from him and spoke to him, who knew it would be the last time…. Im heart broken …. I will miss you dearly such a kind soul …. Till we meet again , My friend
In all the years living in town of of Dansville the few times I saw Bruce was in Hornell; and strangely enough both times I was acting out in public and Bruce put me in check as only he can. But just days ago ran into him and Debbie at an estate sale in town and I was waiting for the husband to discuss prices. And a familiar voice calls out my name and I look over to see Bruce in doorway and he immediately comments on my physical appearance as his eyes scan the yard so nonchalant as only he could deliver…So I have to laugh and tell him am waiting to meet my friend’s husband ….is he remarried? which he just brushes aside. So I ask something I know he’ll go for…who do u know in Hornell? And then I have to cut him off because he just goes on and on….to which he says you do know these people. These people his friends he made it clear he not only stayed in touch but he loved them. And an alarm went off in me that he was so rare so loving so intelligent that I didnt know how the world would manage without him. I could see how good this couple were for each other.and my prayers are with you Debbie.
Aside from the memorable couple of times I ran into Bruce in Hornell it is only days ago saw Bruce and Debbie at an estate sale in Dansville. On both previous occasions in Hornell it seems I was getting a bad attitude and Bruce somehow put me in check and nonchalantly too that I have to laugh. But recently sorta same scenario I go back to this sale to meet my friends husband and discuss prices. And Bruce is standing in the doorway calls out my name so familiar like warming. But Immediately comnents on my physical appearance he does not miss a thing. So I tell him am back to meet my friends husband & ask him if he has remarried. He brushes if off so I know enough to ask after his Hornell connections/friends and he rattles off a list and says you know these people. He makes it plain he stays friends, that he is very interested in them and he is loyal to each and all. I look for him and hes gone to the car an alarm goes off inside me that I would miss him very much if so much time were to go by again and just how rare he is so intelligent, no guile, accepting of me faults and all. I tried to show it. Saw Debbie and Bruce together and how good they were for each other. Prayers are with you & family Debbie.
God Bless you my friend. God Bless your family and friends. I was not expecting to see this news today as I had just spoken with him only a few weeks ago. I asked him how his family was, he’d say doing pretty well. He told me about a birthday party he and his wife were having for one of the grand children, and also getting ready for Easter. He was one of the most genuine, naturally kind, and caring people I considered a friend. He will be greatly missed, this is so very sad.
RIP Bruce. Your bright smile lit up every room. Your hugs were the best. You will be missed and never forgotten. Sincere condolences ..