Memorial planned for beloved Bergen County culinary teacher Chef John Branda
Bergen County Academies students have planned a memorial for their beloved culinary teacher Chef John Branda, who died suddenly due to cancer in October.
The memorial and celebration of life will be held Thursday in the auditorium of the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack beginning at 7 p.m.
Friends, faculty, students and family will remember the man, chef and educator, who for the last 20 years was an integral part of the academy, his friend and co-worker Scott Lang said. The time between the cancer diagnosis and his death at age 64 was about three weeks and took many by surprise, Lang said.
"It's been hard on many people," Lang said. "We have people still coming to terms."
Branda's many achievements will be highlighted during the memorial.
He grew up in a large Italian-Irish American family, according to his obituary. He was raised in Bogota and attended Bogota High School, graduating in 1976.
A 1978 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who excelled in the industry, Branda was named executive sous chef at the world-famous Waldorf Astoria in New York City, where he cooked for countless celebrities, including Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
He opened D.J. Branda's, an Italian restaurant on Fair Lawn Avenue in Fair Lawn, with his brother Dominic in 1992.
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He later sold the restaurant to take a position as food director at New York University Medical Center, where, after the 9/11 terror attack, he worked tirelessly to make sure staff and patients were properly cared for.
In 2003, he joined the staff of the Bergen County Academies and quickly became loved and respected by students and staff.
Lang said he routinely showed up hours before the buses arrived to get his kitchens ready. He would stand outside when the buses arrived to greet students.
"He would also remember the kids' birthdays and other important events, writing handwritten notes," Lang said.
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"He was very devoted to his students," said his widow, Andrea Branda. "He'd keep in touch with his alumni as well."
The celebration will feature speakers, musical performances and tribute videos.
At a brief reception to follow, B&W Bakery's heavy crumb cake will be served. It was Branda's favorite.
"It is hard to imagine a better teacher, mentor, friend, colleague or person than John Branda. Please join us in celebrating his life and legacy," Andrea Branda said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Memorial planned for Bergen County culinary teacher Chef John Branda
