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Peter Brudnock Jr. remembers his father, Peter Sr., as a diligent man – the kind of guy who always did an honest day’s work to better his family.
Others around the community describe Peter Brudnock Sr. as a man of patience, an honest businessman and one of the absolute best TaeKwonDo instructors in the Houma-Thibodaux area.
Brudnock died unexpectedly on Nov. 9, 2014 at the age of 71. His wife Gail, son Peter Jr. and two grandchildren survived him.
They remember the man as one who wore many hats, but handled them all with grace.
“My dad was a very calm and patient man,” Peter Jr. said. “He was a caring man who would do whatever for me – I mean absolutely whatever. I’m an only child, but he taught me that a dollar doesn’t come easy and you have to work hard to get what you want in life.”
Most people around our area know Brudnock for the black belt that he was.
There’s an interesting story about how that came to be.
Peter Jr. said when he was in about the first grade, he asked his parents to join TaeKwonDo.
“My dad decided to join with me,” the son said with a smile.
The elder Brudnock didn’t have any training in martial arts, but he did enjoy a decorated career in the U.S. Air Force in his earlier days.
So the father-and-son-tandem studied and learned the discipline together and each enjoyed success. They studied under former local instructor Davis Kieff – each earning black belts in TaeKwonDo.
As Kieff retired from teaching around the late 1980s and early 1990s, he sort-of passed the torch to the Brudnock family, who started a school of their own – one that still exists today as Peter Jr. continues the family’s legacy.
“We have been teaching together since 1990,” Peter Jr. said. “Over the years, dad had taught several hundred students. It’s hard to put a number to it, but I would say definitely over 500.”
As a teacher, Brudnock Sr. was a father figure to the youngsters – a man who used a martial arts discipline to also teach life lessons to his pupils.
That effectiveness is what has shaped many in the south Lafourche community.
“He instilled some very important life values that the martial arts is designed around like discipline, respect, perseverance, honesty and integrity,” Peter Jr. said. “My dad was very dedicated to teaching. We have been teaching for 25 years every Monday and Wednesday year-round.”
But he was also a dedicated businessman and loving husband.
Away from the TaekWonDo mat, Peter Sr. was the owner of Tideland Electronics – a shop he ran for 45 years at the time of his passing.
He became well versed in that type of work while in the Air Force. He received his training in radio communication.
“He mainly catered to the shrimpers and commercial fishermen,” Peter Jr. said. “He did some commercial fishermen and some recreational fisherman, too, as well as some oilfield electronics. When those big, 10-foot satellite dishes were popular, he used to install those for people, too.”
While in business, Peter Sr. worked hand-in-hand with Gail – the apple of his eye for 47 years; the reason this non-Louisianan ever became an adopted Cajun.
Peter Sr. was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – the city made famous each year because it is where the groundhog decides whether or not winter will be extended.
His Louisiana ties come through the military – and also Gail. The two met once in New Orleans while he was stationed in Biloxi with the Air Force.
After Peter Sr. completed his duties, they reunited and got married. The couple started their life journey together in Erie, Pennsylvania, but after about a year, they came back to Louisiana and settled in Lafourche Parish.
Peter Sr. started his adult life working for a man in Golden Meadow. But when that man sold his trade to the Pennsylvania transplant, Tideland Electronics was born.
“My mom worked by his side in the business,” Peter Jr. remembered. “She did the book work and daily operations while my dad did the repairs on marine electronic equipment and also installed new equipment.
“They were together all of the time. They were very close both in the work environment and also at home.”
Peter Jr. said he has never been more proud of his father than in 2011 when he saw him tend to Gail, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and also heart blockage.
She is now cancer free.
“Dad took care of her the whole way,” the son remembered. “My dad had a demeanor that I respected. He would never get excited or fuss me growing up. But when he spoke, I respected what he was saying.”
Peter Brudnock Sr. (left) was a dedicated martial arts instructor who worked with children locally for more than 20 years.
