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Marion Branick passed away on July 19, 2008. She was 77 years of age. She was living in Sarasota, FL at the time.
Survivors include sisters, Martha Waurin of Durham, NC, and Dolores Miller of Pompton Plains, NJ; and a brother, Joseph Branick of Simpson, PA.
The following was published in the Herald Tribune on July 23, 2008:
Marion, a resident of Sarasota, FL, taught English and social studies for 41 1/2 years in DoDDS schools. Her adventurous spirit took her to Yokohama (1957-59), Verdun (1959-61), Camp Zama, Japan (1961-63), Paris (63-67), SHAPE, Belgium (67-83), Bermuda (83-94), and Panama (95-99), where she retired in January 1999. She was an active and innovative sponsor of yearbook publications and the Model United Nations.
In Sarasota, she was a volunteer ESOL teacher for the Literacy Society of Sarasota County and was president for many years of her Condominium Association Board of Governors. She was an eager participant in a local discussion group and loved theatre going.
A loyal friend to many, Marion was a gourmet cook who enjoyed entertaining, fine dining, telling a good story, and keeping in touch with former DoDDS colleagues and students.
Her influence on colleagues and students continues to have a lasting impact. In recalling Marion, one of her former students said, "She was a wonderful teacher and advisor. Of the many teachers I had from kindergarten through college, I can truly say that Ms. Branick was the most influential and is most fondly remembered."
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Ed Heinricks Case (Ed Case) (1962)
Miss Branick was a teacher who had a wonderful smile and great since of humor.
Once in our English class, she wore a multi-stripped smock and called it Joseph's coat of many colors.
When reading about her death, I went to my yearbook where she had written a touching note to me.
Oh, how I wished she had been to one of our reunions.
Bill Bugg (1963)
Miss Branick stands at the top of my list, right up there with Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Ford and of course, my coach Clancey Williams. I remember my first day at Zama in 1962, as I arrived a few weeks late from Yo-Hi. I handed her my slip and she read my last name aloud, "Bugg"? I said you can call me Bill. She said, "Have a seat New Boy." I least she didn't say the only good bug was a dead bug...
In '63, we had 9 students in her senior english class and they were all guys. J.D., Kem, Kit and who knows. One day we had impromptu speeches and I drew "How to milk a bull." It was pretty funny and she gave me an "A". She was a cool English teacher.
I just discovered her passing today and I will miss her, even though I haven't seen her in 47 years. She was an amazing and dedicated teacher and she has my deep respect. I just hope she wasn't a liberal...
James "J. D. " Schnabel (1963)
I've often wondered what happened to my all time favorite teacher - Marion Branick. By chance I read this obituary with great sadness. She always opened the class with talking about our lives in and out of school. She really was interest in us and it showed. I once wrote a dumb essay about a pet parakeet, named Pretty Boy, who flew away and Ms Branick wrote at the top, "I hope Pretty Boy comes home." She was a jewel.
Michael Warren (1963)
Marion was one of thos teachers who had a dramatic impact on my life. She was the best damn English Teacher ever, and I loved it when she liked one of my themes. She taught me how to write a good sentence, paragraph, theme, and term paper. I breezed through college english because of what Marion taught me as a junior and senior in high school. I wish I could have thanked her personally.
Raymond Foery (1963)
I can only second Mike Warren's comments. Miss Branick was the greatest. I went on to major in Philosophy and Literature and later to edit an arts journal. I used everything she taught me --- and she taught me everything.