John Bronson

John Bronson, a resident of Pasadena, MD and President of TOPSOIL etc, Inc. at 7012 Fort Smallwood Rd in Baltimore MD 21226, died Tuesday, November 4, 2014, losing his short and courageous battle with lung cancer. He was 64.
The son of Gilbert and Viola Bronson, he was born and raised in Potsdam, NY, where he graduated from Potsdam High School in 1969.
He entered the United States Marines 1st Platoon T Company June 30, 1970 receiving an honorable medical discharge. He loved everything military-related and had a great love for the Marines, never failing to Semper Fi a fellow marine.
From the 1970's to 1990's he was a certified carpenter and welder and worked as a pile driver on a variety of jobs in the area including the DC subway and the new Severn River Bridge. From there as night superintendent, he founded Bronson Backhoe, Inc., and thus began his final career focusing on the dirt business.
In 2005, he founded TOPSOIL etc, Inc. when after more than 15 years in the construction and excavating business, John realized there was a need for topsoil suppliers in his area. With that in mind, he began stockpiling materials from different job sites.
From there it did not take long to branch out into recycling yard waste that was being sent to landfills. He began making the material into compost, now trademarked as TOPSHELF COMPOST. Using the compost and unwanted dirt, TOPSOIL etc Inc. now produces state certified topsoil with an emphasis on producing a variety of job-specific materials to meet the needs of the customer.
TOPSOIL etc. Inc. was recently featured on the cover and in the October 2014 edition of WHEN (Waste Handling Equipment News). TOPSOIL etc. INC. had been selected to serve as the recycling demonstration site for the TEREX-Finlay Open Days 2014 in Baltimore, MD in July 2014. More than 100 attendees from across the US and Canada spent the an educational and informative morning observing new equipment using TOPSOIL etc.'s bagged yard waste and other materials being produced.
He was a member of the US Compositing Council and was appointed as a member of the 2013-14 Technical Subcommittee of the former MDE Workgroup for developing the Maryland proposed composting regulations, House Bill 1440 Recycling Composting Facilities.
John liked to be referred to as a "Dirt Merchant"!
John loved boating the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. He received his captain's license in 2002 and for a period of time operated a charter business out of Ocean City, MD. He and his wife, Susan Cassidy, had a passion for cruising the Chesapeake Bay in their vessels.
John was an avid motorcycle enthusiast, fisherman and hunter.
John was a life-long member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Eastern Shore Gun Club, Inc. and the King David's Lodge No 68.
Survivors include his devoted wife of 37 years, Susan Cassidy of Pasadena, MD. Also three loving siblings: one brother, Robert Bronson and his wife, Ann of Potsdam, NY; two sisters, Nancy Kuhl of Albany, NY and Diane Young and her husband, Quentin of Carmel, IN.
Contributions may be made to any charity of the donor's choosing or to The Wounded Warrior Project online www.wounded warrior project.org/Donate or at their mailing address: PO Box 758517 Topeka KS 66675 (855-448-3997) or to The Hospice of the Chesapeake online at www.hospicechesapeake.org or at their mailing address: 90 Ritchie Highway Pasadena, MD 21122 (410-987-2004).