Tamara Branch

Tamara Branch, affectionately known as "Tammy," was born on June 20, 1964, in Hartford, CT at Mount Sinai Hospital to William Harvey Branch and Jessie Lou (Pertillar) Branch. She is the only and youngest daughter of five children, and one of the 53 first cousins of the largest family in the history of Hartford, CT, the Pertillars.

Tamara grew up in Bloomfield, CT and enjoyed a cultured childhood, full of love, family, and exploration. Her parents introduced her to nature at a young age, where she became a Brownie, Girl Scout, and learned to ice skate and roller skate. Her mother taught her how to cook at a young age which helped her to excel in Girl Scouts. By the time she was eight she cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner for her family. Tamara had a flare for baking and made lavish baked goods out of her Easy Bake Oven, where she was known for her famous Tollhouse Cookie Pie.

In the late 60s, William and Jessie Branch took their children on many camping trips along the East Coast from Maine to Florida in their family RV. This is where Tamara developed a passion for travel, learning to read a map by the age of nine.

Because she is the only daughter, Tamara's mother and grandmother Ethel (Crews) Branch Peterson, lovingly introduced her to fashion at a young age, where they always dressed her to a "T." That spark became a life-long love, one she embraced so fully, that she often worked to buy clothes expressing herself through style.

Tamara attended Bloomfield Public Schools. Her first job was picking tobacco for Colboro in Bloomfield, CT. She also worked at Seasons Convalescence as a cook all while attending school. After graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1982, Tamara attended Central Connecticut State University. While in college Tamara "got the hook up" for a position at Metropolitan District of Connecticut Water Borough (MDC), where her father was an engineer. After college, she worked at Xerox and Cigna.

As an enroller at Cigna, Tamara travelled throughout the US selling insurance. She did so well in sales, Cigna allowed her to create her own position and an opportunity to relocate to Los Angeles, CA, where three of her brothers had already made their home. She worked at Cigna for 15 years. In 2001 she became an independent contractor and worked for Colonial selling supplemental insurance to public sector employees. She was so successful at it, she also trained new agents.

Within the first 5 years of living in Los Angeles, she became a part of the Imani Book club and travelled with them to Sedona, New Orleans, Palm Springs and Napa Valley. She later co-founded a travel company, the Wanderlust Group, creating a series of group trips known as Girlfriend Getaway Productions. Here, bringing women together through connection, adventure, and shared experiences. These excursions fostered friendship, joy, and unforgettable memories which included taking over 100 women to Puerto Rico and St. Marrten.

Tamara's additional adventures included traveling to 40 states, 35 countries, skydiving, walking on coals with Tony Robbins, participating in over 20 CicLAvias, walking the LA Marathon (26.3 miles), hiking many California trails, her favorite being Kenneth Hahn Park. She climbed the equivalent of 105 flights daily.

Tamara's love for adventure took her across the world. She hiked the lower Himalayan Mountains for 3 days, stayed with the Karen tribe in the jungle, and rode elephants through the Himalayan landscape. She did white water rafting in Thailand, went on 11 luxury cruises including one down the Mediterranean. Cruised along the Mekong Delta in Laos, ziplined in the rainforest of Costa Rica, rode horseback and camelback in many countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Dubai, and Morocco. Tamara attended a rugby match in South Africa, visited Robben Island and stood inside Nelson Mandela's prison cell, and went on a South African safari. She also attended a black-tie affair in a Medieval Castle on the mountain top of Florence, Italy. She attended a cocktail party at the Statue of David, at the Academy of Florence Art Gallery. Visited "Hedonism" the nudist resort in Jamaica. Joined the BGM hiking group, a Blue Zone in Los Angeles. Tamara participated in Humanitarian work such as Habitat for Humanity South Africa, LA County firefighter toy drive for 10+ years, volunteered at the LA food bank, Kiva International, and Food on Foot for 10 years.

Tamara, a proud health nut at heart, discovered amazing food experiences savoring life in all its' flavors.

Tamara joins her parents, William Harvey Branch, Jessie Lou (Pertillar) Branch; her paternal grandparents, Ethel (Crews) Branch Peterson and Robert (Pete) Peterson; maternal grandparents, Charles and Clara Pertillar; nephew, Courtney R. Branch Jr.; six uncles, five aunts, and eight first cousins.

Those left to cherish her memory are four brothers, Gregory L. (Anne) Branch of South Carolina, Randall H. Branch of Los Angeles, CA, Courtney Branch of Atlanta, GA, and Terrell Branch of Los Angeles, CA; nieces, Tonia M. (Ryan) Byrd of Los Angeles, CA, Cheris L. Branch of Los Angeles, CA, Samirah Branch of Atlanta, GA, and Brooklyn Branch of Moreno Valley, CA; nephews, Mikell J. Branch of Los Angeles, CA and Esa Branch of Atlanta, GA; five aunts, Edna (Pertillar) Vinters of Hartford, CT, Leola (Pertillar) McCrorey of Windsor, CT, Sandra (Pertillar) Lindsay of Hartford, CT, Virginia (Ginger) Pertillar of Hartford, CT, and Anna Pertillar of Windsor, CT; three uncles, Donald Pertillar of Rivera Beach, FL, Julius (Elizabeth) Pertillar of Loxley, Alabama, and Cecil Pertillar of West Palm Beach, FL; and 48 first cousins; five God children, Tyree Hughey of Portland, CT, Tatiana A. Lewis of Jersey City, NJ, Maia Pina of Richmond, VA, Julian Pina of Richmond, VA, and Langston McCurdy of Richmond, VA; and her beloved doggie, Smokii Branch; and a host of friends whom she shared many precious moments with.

Her family will receive friends on Saturday, March 7, 10-11 a.m., with a Celebration of Life, 11 a.m., at the Lodge Community Chapel, 130 Deerfield Rd., Windsor.

Burial will be private.