John V. Brando's Obituary
John Vincent Brando (1947-2024) passed away Thursday August 8th at the age of 77 in New York City. He is survived by his wife Bertha (Berke) Brando, his daughters Lee (spouse Tara) and Christine and his grandchildren Katherine (age 13), Elizabeth (age 11), Margot (age 9), and John (age 7).
John spent nearly the whole of his life as a small business owner, starting a Bait and Tackle shop out of his parents’ garage at age 9 with his brother Vincent. Later, he bought the Beer and Soda Depot that his father started, and subsequently opened a bakery. In his semi-retirement he was the developer and landlord of Plaza on the Bay in Howard Beach.
In addition to his business acumen acquired on the job, he attended Rochester Institute of Technology and received a BS in mechanical engineering in 1969. Among his achievements as an engineer working for Grumman Aerospace Corporation, he worked on the Apollo Lunar Module and the F-14-Tomcat.
He was a humble and honest man with a dry, kind sense of humor. Always optimistic and grateful, John was especially thankful for his family, who brought him such joy. His dedication to his four grandchildren was limitless, traveling to Connecticut two days each week to visit. He nurtured a love of learning by reviewing alphabet flash cards with Katherine as a baby, maintaining a nightly ritual of praying the “Our Father” with his granddaughter Ellie, practicing reading with Johnny, and the multiplication table with Margot.
While he loved to fish on his boat “Playing Hooky,” he was usually working when it was most ideal to cast off. Instead, he contended himself with tanks of tropical fish. In midlife, he traded racquetball for tennis, had a little more time to ride his Harley Davidsons, had an occasional horseback ride, and went to the range to shoot. He never fulfilled his dream to play the saxophone, but his clarinet skills have inspired his granddaughters to take it up.
He imparted his business sense and penchant for engineering/design to his daughter Christine. And, he shared his love of history, his intense passion for politics, and his appreciation for photography with his daughter Lee.
For 52 years he was a devoted husband, enjoying travel, classic films, and rock and roll music of the 1950s and 1960s with Bertha.
A wake will be held at James Romanelli - Stephen Funeral Home 89-01 Rockaway Blvd, Ozone Park, NY 11416 on Tuesday August 13 from 3:00-8:00 pm. A funeral will take place at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery following mass at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Bonita Springs, Florida on Friday August 16.
Donations can be made in his honor to New York-Presbyterian.
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