Jeanne Antoinette Bruno

Jeanne Antoinette Fernandez Bruno passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. She was born and raised in New Orleans. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She was married for 45 years to Victor H. Bruno, who predeceased her, whom she loved and adored often referring to him as “a genius”. Her parents, Francoise Blanchin Fernandez and Emanuel Paul Fernandez, predeceased her. Her brother, Royes Emanuel Fernandez, who passed away at the age of 50 was an internationally acclaimed ballet star, who was named the premier danseur at American Ballet Theatre from 1957-1972. When she spoke of Royes, she couldn’t contain her pride. Jeanne had a passion for ballet since childhood and was herself recognized as an accomplished ballerina. She studied ballet for many summers in New York City at the esteemed School of American Ballet and performed in New Orleans as a soloist in productions by the New Orleans Opera House Association and the Summer Pops. Jeanne performed and taught ballet for several years in Bogotá, Colombia. It may surprise those who knew her that upon her return to the United States she worked for the CIA for over a decade. (It is no surprise that she could keep a secret!) As a lover of all arts, however, she decided to dedicate her creative energy and enthusiasm to the enrichment of lives in New Orleans and beyond. Her volunteer efforts and civic endeavors spanned over 50 years. To name a few: New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony; Delta Festival Ballet; Odyssey House; New Orleans Opera Association; NOCCA; Covenant House; WRBH Radio Station for the Blind; New Orleans Garden Society; National Endowment for the Arts; and Young Audiences. Jeanne’s warmth and generous spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be missed. There will be a celebration of Jeanne’s life at Lambeth House. Lambeth House was more than a place for Jeanne; it was a community of people whom she loved.