Armbruster’s son, Matt, said the family is still reeling from the loss, but grateful for the community support.
“We’re so overwhelmed by the love of the community,” he said. “It’s been incredible.”
Armbruster, 66, was taken to the hospital by ambulance on March 6, after experiencing shortness of breath at the Bob Evans restaurant on Village Drive. He was eating breakfast with his wife when he apparently had trouble breathing, according to fire department officials.
Visitation for Armbruster will be h from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 26, at Wilson Schramm Spaulding Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 27, at St. John’s Church in Middletown.
Tony Marconi, a former Middletown councilman and close friend of Armbruster, was in the hospital room at Atrium Medical Center when Jim took his last breath.
“We were crying like babies because it was so sad, but at the same time it was like God said, ‘Jim, it’s time,’ ” Marconi said. “You almost felt like the angels came down and ushered him into heaven — it was that peaceful.”
Armbruster had been “doing well” as late as 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Marconi said, adding that his friend began having trouble shortly after midnight. Marconi said that Armbruster developed an irregular heartbeat and then his internal organs began shutting down one-by-one.
Marconi described their relationship as “closer than brothers,” saying he was not sure what the city or the Armbruster family will do without him. There was “nothing phony” about Armbruster, he said.
“Jim was a uniter, not a divider,” Marconi said. “He was a very humble, compassionate, big-hearted person who truly loved people. That’s rare today.”
Called caring, compassionate and big supporter of Middletown, friends and colleagues alike say Jim Armbruster will be missed
Two people were allowed to ride shotgun in former Councilman Tony Marconi’s truck alongside his dog, Vinny: his wife and Jim Armbruster.
“Even my dog loved that man,” Marconi said. “That tells you something about Jim’s character. He’s just that type of person; very compassionate and loves people.”
Marconi was beside himself Monday, March 22, one day after losing one of his closest friends.
“I love him so much,” Marconi said. “I’m absolutely going to miss him. I really think people did not realize how much work behind the scenes Jim did over the years, just getting things done.”
The last time Marconi spoke with Armbruster was Friday, March 5, the night before he was taken to Atrium Medical Center for shortness of breath. Marconi had not been able to speak with his friend for the last two weeks, largely as a result of medications Armbruster was taking.
“When you’re in a situation like that they’ve got you all sedated,” he said. “They keep you in that twilight.”
Hospital staff were in the process of taking Armbruster off of sedatives before he passed away, Marconi said, attempting to restore him to “full alertness” and begin preparing him to get back to his normal life.
Mark Kerns, a teacher at Middletown High School, said the Armbruster family has passionately supported the district’s athletics over the years, particularly through the annual Richard “Spec” McGraw award given to a Middletown baseball player.
“Regardless of what it was, Jim never once turned us away,” Kerns said. “He was always willing to do more than he could to help out. He was a great humanitarian and this is a big loss for the community.”
In addition to financially assisting Middie athletics, Armbruster also worked to rename a portion of Verity Parkway after OSU football star and Middletown native Todd Bell. Kerns said Armbruster was instrumental in a lot of projects people are not aware of.
“He did things like that,” he said. “He was a big Middletown booster. I don’t think we see that much passion these days.”
Vice Mayor Anita Scott Jones said she appreciated being able to refer to Armbruster as a colleague.
“He cared about the city a great deal and did everything he could to improve it,” Jones said. “Any loss of life is a loss, but he is going to be truly missed.”
City Manager Judy Gilleland said Armbruster was someone who “genuinely cared about our community.” After nearly three years of working together, she said she will truly miss his sense of humor and support.
“He was part of our government for 16 years and made a difference in Middletown,” Gilleland said. “Jim was a fair and caring leader of our community; always guided by compassion.”
Armbruster served 11 years on the city’s Park Board before winning a seat representing Middletown’s 1st Ward on City Council. He was elected to his first four-year term on the council in November 2005 and recently won a second term this past fall. He served as the city’s vice mayor during 2008 and 2009.
He also has strong ties to Middletown’s business community, as owner and operator of Armbruster Florist. The family business started in 1945, when Armbruster’s father and grandfather founded it.
Armbruster’s 16-year-old grandson, Gabriel, handled customers at Armbruster Florist Monday, March 22, a somewhat somber mood filling the family business. He said his grandfather was a big part of the business and an even bigger part of everybody’s life.
“We’ve had people calling in all morning sending their condolences,” he said. “He was a very respected and well-known man in the community. He lived here all of his life and worked here all of his life.”
Snapdragons were Armbruster’s favorite flowers, Gabriel said, and the first thing that comes to mind whenever he thinks of his grandfather.
“He loved flowers and loved life,” he said. “He was a big part of our life and I’m going to miss him.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or at rgauthier@coxohio.com.
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