Hal Bruno, the former ABC News political director who also worked closely with fire departments as a volunteer and advocate, died Tuesday night. He was 83.

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A native of Chicago, Bruno worked as a journalist for 60 years. He covered every national election since 1960. He was often on debate panels and served as moderator of the vice-presidential debate in many elections, including the 1992 campaign.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, Bruno worked for Newsweek and covered, among other stories, the Cuban revolution and the civil rights movement.

He retired from ABC News in 1999 from ABC News, where he was political director and host of a weekly talk show.

Bruno also received numerous awards for his fire-fighting, including National Fire & Emergency Services Hall of Legends, Legacies and Leaders Award and in 1999 he received the “President’s Award” from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He was named “Fire Service Person of the Year” by the Congressional Fire Services Institute in 1995, among other and in 2009 he received the Fire Buff of the Year Award from the International Fire Buff Associates. He is also a 2008 inductee of the Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists Hall of Fame.

Hal is survived by his loving wife Meg, his sister Barbara and his sons Harold and Daniel, and their wives, Brenda and Susan and four grandchildren.