Protech Blog Remembering Pops

It is with a very heavy heart that we let you know that our founder, Frank S. Bruffey, Jr., passed away on Saturday, April 29, a week after a sudden heart attack.We are, of course, deeply saddened at Frank's passing, but it is much more than that. Some people make such a positive impact within their personal and professional communities that it is incredibly difficult to imagine life without their presence.Frank S. Bruffey, Jr. -- aka "FSB" or "Pops" if you like -- was such a person.Yes, he was a "force to be reckoned with." He took great pride in the fact that he could "outwork" anyone. He simply helped so many people, starting with his family, friends of his family, and people in his world that he believed he could help. FSB was all about providing opportunities.He was also an extremely generous person -- a relentless champion of the underdog -- and many of us owe him much more than we could ever repay by simply showing up to work and doing what we do best. He consistently said, "If you're going to do something, then do it right. Otherwise, why bother?"It's hard to imagine that thirty-two years have passed since Frank, Jr. started the company with "six kids and a hundred bucks in the bank."One of those kids, my brother Frank Bruffey, III, was Protech's first hire. He and some of the rest of us remember "hopping in an old van loaded with computer equipment" and driving through the night to client locations.It was a scrappy life, but we made it work. "Survive to Thrive"."Family First" is a slogan you often hear around Protech's offices, but we mean it in a much deeper sense than just those we have dinner with every evening.To us, "Family First" encompasses the entire Protech Family -- everyone we serve as a result of the legacy that Pops created.Our Families.Our Clients.Our Staff.Our Business Partners.Our Relationships.Family First.Protech will continue to do what we have always done best: offering a world-class AMS solution and high quality service to organizations that make a difference in the world. We know that that is the best way we can honor and remember Pops. It's what he would want. And it's what we plan to do.There won't be a service for Pops. He was clear that he didn't want one and wanted to make it easy on his wife, Jacqueline, and his family. Dad will be missed dearly by all those fortunate to have the opportunity to know him.If you'd like to remember him, here are two of his favorite charities:Wounded Warriors Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donateDelaware SPCA: http://www.delspca.org/On behalf of the entire Protech Family, we would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to be of service to our customers. We remain incredibly fortunate and grateful for having an amazing leader, mentor, friend, example, and father that will always live on within our hearts and minds.Here's to many more memories.Sincerely,Brian BruffeyProtech CEOAnd devoted son to FSB