Obituary of Professor Angelo Branca

Professor Angelo Branca passed into eternal life on August 11, 2023 at the age of 90. Born in Acri, Cosenza, Italy on November 19, 1932 to Domenico and Assunta (nee Sammarro), he lived a humble, happy, and mischievous life along with his 2 brothers, Antonio and Francesco and his extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. While he loved his beloved hometown and family, his mother knew that his mind was too big and brilliant to be restricted by the limitations that they all experienced in post-war Italy. She made sure that he took his education as far as he could in their hometown, watching proudly as he received his diploma from the Liceo Classico in Acri. He then, sadly but bravely, went to Germany in 1959 as a young man to be a carpenter's apprentice along with a group of friends from Calabria, knowing that this would be the only way for him to pursue his desires of broadening his education. While there, he served as the primary translator to the group, having mastered many languages by that point. He remained in Germany for two years before taking the courageous opportunity to immigrate to the United States alone in 1961, settling in Yonkers, NY. Angelo valued hard work as much as he did education and set out to pursue both immediately. His first job was as an inspector at Stewart Stamping in Yonkers, while also working a second job at Yonkers Raceway.. While working, he was determined to assimilate into the American culture and professional network, earning a Certificate for a Completed Language Course at the American Language Institute at New York University in 1964. He then went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1972. Angelo received his permanent teaching certification to teach grade school Italian in 1978 from the New York State Department of Education, and lastly received his Master's Degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York in 1978. To say that the pursuit of education was a life-long passion for for Prof. Branca is a gross understatement. His thirst for knowledge about literature, culture and history propelled him to read every book, manuscript and journal that he could get his hands on (especially those from Italian and Greek authors). He was a strong advocate of travel – not only to a beach or vacation resort, which he traveled to frequently on cruises with his beloved wife of 59 years, Clarice - but to places rich in history. That curiosity took him to places far and wide such as Greece, China, Russia, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and throughout the United States & Canada. He made certain to bring his passions to life in the classrooms in the Yonkers Public Schools as a French, Italian and ESL teacher and an adjunct Professor at Fordham University and Westchester Community College and to his most prized students .. his daughters and grandchildren. Angelo is survived by Clarice (nee Lonardo), his loving wife of 59 years; his brother Antonio married to Maria Carmela; his daughters Susan Branca-Kuehn married to John, and Paula Branca-Santos married to Richard, and 3 loving grandchildren to which he was devoted and of which he was immensely proud: John Kuehn Jr married to Kiersten, Ashley Kuehn, & Cristiana Santos. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 14, at Sinatra Memorial Funeral Home in Yonkers from 3pm to 7pm. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 15, at Annunciation Parish in Yonkers at 10am, followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in New Rochelle. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Enrico Fermi Scholarship Fund of Yonkers; Annt Sean Zimmer/Treasurer, 10 Alpha St, Yonkers, NY 10707; write "In Memory of Prof Angelo Branca", and/or the FIERI Scholarship Fund ? John F. Calvelli, 642 Esplanade, Pelham Manor NY 10803, in the memo write "In Memory of Prof Angelo Branca", both to support scholarships to students of Italian descent in the local area.