Gordon Branche

1932 - 2015

Gordon C. Branche, 82

WORCESTER - Gordon Charles Branche, patriarch of his family, died the morning of Tuesday, August 11th, 2015 watching the sunrise from his bed at home. Born September 4, 1932 in Niagara Falls NY to Clay Charles and Mabel Christine, nee Radley, Branche, Gordon always considered himself 100% American, never missing to vote in Presidential elections. Gordon was a member of the seventh generation of the large, extended Branche / Branch Family which settled along the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in upper New York State on a Revolutionary War land Grant to Count Chaumont of France. The Branches were from Alsace-Loraine, a small area in central Europe that was contested by France and Germany for generations, as reflected by Gordon's ancestral DNA of mixed French, German, British, Spanish, Italian and Greek. As he liked to say he was a 100% average American mutt.

Gordon attended school in the La Salle section of Niagara Falls, NY where he was a paperboy, an average student involved in music, mischief and his love, mathematics. His high school teacher, Rita Hall, arranged for him to skip school to study for the New York Regents exams in math where he averaged 100% over his high school years. Gordon earned degrees from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Rochester. In 1959, upon graduation, Gordon was recruited by WPI Professor Elliott Buell to teach Algebra in the expanding Math Department. Gordon's love of teaching was reflected in his continuing to teach one freshman section per year while serving as Department Chair or Administrative Chair. After 38 years at WPI he retired in 1997, stating that he had missed only one day of work, the same year WPI granted the first PhDs in Mathematics. While at WPI he was active in the Young Faculty Organization, served as Secretary of the Faculty and was the first member of the faculty to sit with the board of Trustees. Gordon was proud of the work done to produce the "Plan" which developed engineer's sensitivity to their effect on the environment, community and people.

An avid reader, Gordon served on the Worcester Public Library board, as well as the first Cable (advisory) Commission in Worcester County, lobbying for more public access from the cable company hoping that Worcester would develop a strong presence on TV. He was physically very active as a member of a biking group that preceded the Worcester Wheelmen. Biking with his four sons along Worcester county roads was a favorite activity. He was a founding member of the WPI Foot Pounders, a running club, and active in the WPI Mash Group which set new routes for each run. Gordon was not a swimmer or a camper – he would set up the family's primitive camp and quickly return to the comforts of home.

In his church Immaculate Conception, Gordon served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years at ICC. He was a supporter of the Father Connors Center which became home to the St Agnes Day Care. Gordon saw this as a fulfillment of Father Connors' wish to have a school that served children. Upon his retirement, Gordon continued to be an avid walker, to the WPI gym three days a week, to the weekly meetings of the Math Department's Fluid Dynamics Seminar at Tweeds as well as accompanying the dog several times a day. Gordon took up new activities common to retirees such as vacuuming and kitchen cleanup.

Gordon will be remembered for his sharp wit – during a recent exam to assess his mental state he was asked to solve an arithmetic problem. The doctor noted Gordon had had some difficulty. Gordon replied "I'm an Algebraist! I use letters not numbers". Many a bank teller could attest to Gordon's arithmetic skills.

Christened "Grumpy" by his toddler granddaughter Gordon leaves behind a male dominated family, except for his High School and college acquaintance and wife of 59 years, Lou Anne, nee Bell and two granddaughters Lindsay Marie Branche and Samantha Radley St Germain the first Girls in three generations. He leaves his four sons, Gary Russell, Paul Charles, Michael Louis and John Radley; four grandsons Paul Jr, Sean, Clay and Matthew; three great grandsons Logan, Evan and Cameron St Germain; and one great granddaughter Gianna Ryann DePina. Additionally he leaves his extended family Michelle Hannan; Kimberly Sue Branche; Manuel, Emmanuel and Zenylda DePina; Joseph St Germain; Valerie Ostander and very special friend, fellow mathematician, trivia buff, Fluid Dynamics buddy and kindred soul JJ Malone.

Special Thanks to the Fallon Clinic – Summit Health Plan whose combined quality of skill and supportive care of Gordon and his family. Memorial gifts may be sent to any local charity.

Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester. The funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove St., Worcester. Burial will be private.