Richard W Branca

Age 81, in Loveland, Colo., on January 25, 2021 of natural causes.

Born in Rockford, Ill., the eldest son of the late Carl and Adele (Yankaitis) Branca,

Richard graduated from East High School in 1957. He earned his BS degree from the

University of Illinois in 1962 and his DDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the

University of Illinois Chicago Medical Center in 1966. Upon graduation he entered the

USAF at the rank of Captain and was stationed for two years at Kelly AFB in San

Antonio, Texas. He completed a didactic year in oral surgery at Tufts University School

of Dental Medicine in Boston, Mass. in 1969 and a clinical internship the following year

at Yale University-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn. Following residency in

oral surgery at Denver General Hospital from 1970-73, Richard practiced in the Greater

Denver area for some 37 years. He was admitted to the American Association of Oral and

Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) in 1979 and published in the association’s journal. He

retired in 2008.

Throughout his life, Richard loved the outdoors and especially exploring and climbing

the Colorado mountains. He was passionate about photography, observing and composing

with an artist’s eye. His other hobbies and interests included cycling, riding in crosscountry

Heart Cycle events for the American Heart Association, astronomy, fine art, food,

music, ecological conservation, and model airplanes, the latter, like cycling, dating to his

teenage years in Rockford. He was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and

its affiliate, the National Free Flight Society, as well as Colorado’s own free flight group,

the Magnificent Mountain Men. He had a progressive mind and was ahead of his time in

many regards.

Richard is survived by his daughter Lara Branca of Dolores, Colo., son Michael Branca

of Fort Collins, Colo., a brother Thomas Branca and his wife Geraldine of Cotuit, Mass.,

a sister Kathryn (Branca) Smith and her husband Robert of Elmhurst, Ill., nephews Justin

Smith and his wife Eva of Oak Park, Ill., and Bradley Smith and his wife Elizabeth

Neuranter of Chicago; niece Lindsay (Smith) Gallup and her husband Steve, also of Oak

Park, as well as many cousins and family friends, whose children he cherished.

A private service is scheduled for May 3, 2021 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in

Denver. Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the Sierra Club Foundation—

John Muir Chapter, 754 Williamson Street, Madison, Wisc. 53703. To leave a message of

condolence, please visit: https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/arvada-co/

richard-branca-10035385.

A Service is scheduled for 1:00pm on May 3rd, 2021 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver CO.

In Lieu of flowers Memorial Contributions can be made to the following organizations:

Sierra Club Foundation-John Muir Chapter

Address: 754 Williamson St., Madison Wisconsin 53703

Website: act.sierraclub.org/donate

The National Audubon Society

Address: 225 Varick St. 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014

Website: act.audobon.org/a/memorial-gift

World Wildlife Fund

Address: 1250 24th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037

Website: Support.worldwildlife.org/site/donation2