Anthony Gerard Brocato

Anthony Gerard Brocato loving husband, devoted father and beloved Papa to his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren passed away peacefully on April 3, 2018 surrounded by his beloved wife and children. He was 85. 

Born on December 6, 1932 in Beaumont, Texas Anthony was the youngest child of T.A. and Lena Fertitta Brocato. Constantly doted on by his three older sisters Concetta, Mary Claire, and Jo Therese he was the “crown prince” of the Brocato household. Anthony enjoyed his childhood in Beaumont proudly helping his parents operate Brocato’s Food Store at the corner of Orange and Royal Streets.

Anthony attended St. Anthony Elementary and Middle Schools before graduating from St. Anthony High School in 1949. He went on to the University of Texas at Austin where Anthony was a member of the Silver Spurs and enjoyed being a brother in the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Anthony completed his undergraduate studies earning his Bachelors of Business Administration degree in 1954.

Upon graduation Anthony served his country as a member of United States Air Force rising to the rank of Captain.  After the service, Anthony returned to Austin earning his Doctorate of Jurisprudence at the University of Texas Law School in 1958. 

After coming home to Beaumont and beginning his career, Anthony’s sister, Concetta, a teacher at Hotel Dieu School of Nursing, introduced him to a beautiful nursing student from Turkey Creek, Louisiana, Myrna Loy Johnson. Anthony and Myrna were married at St. Joseph Catholic Church beginning a happy life together for almost sixty years.

Soon Myrna and Anthony welcomed the birth of daughter, Jeanne in 1961. A short eleven months later, the Brocato household grew with the arrival of the triplets; Tony, Walter, and Jim. Baby sister Elizabeth was born three years later.

Anthony began his legal career as City Attorney of Beaumont, and served as attorney for the Beaumont Independent School District and Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. He went on to practice law with the firms of Weller, Wheelus, Green & Brocato and Crutchfield, DeCordova, Brocato & Heartfield in Beaumont. Anthony went on to form the Law Offices of Anthony G. Brocato. A Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, Anthony was a President of the Jefferson County Bar Association and a member of the Board of Trustees of the St. Anthony Cathedral School Foundation.

While he was always active in the community, Anthony’s true focus was his family. The proud son of immigrants from Cefalu, Sicily, he shared stories of faith and family history around the dinner table with his children. To this day his children and grandchildren can relate his stories by heart and will tell you if you ask that “It all started with Abraham”.

The embodiment of what it means to be a true family man, Anthony’s greatest love was always for his wife, Myrna and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Anthony was a man of deep Catholic faith whose legacy will live on in the lives of his family as they proudly share tales of their Papa. He was one of a kind and will never be forgotten by all who knew and loved him.

Anthony is predeceased by his parents and his sisters; Concetta McGettigan, Mary Claire Petkovsek and; by his cousin, Sam “Boo” Serio, who was like a brother to him, and by his brothers-in-law, Patrick McGettigan, Lucas Petkovsek and Thomas Phalen. Anthony is survived by his wife, Myrna Loy Johnson Brocato, and by his children, Jeanne Marie Brocato Parker and her husband John, Anthony Gerard Brocato, Jr. and his wife Catherine, Walter Clyde Brocato and his wife Mary, James Michel Brocato and his wife Allison, and Elizabeth Brocato Jackson and her husband Michael and by his grandchildren, Elizabeth Parker Douthit and her husband Aaron, Mary Frances Parker Story and her husband Michael, Jack Parker and his wife Kayla, Ben Parker, Anna Brocato, Catherine Brocato, Emma Brocato, Sam Brocato, Roseanne Brocato, Michael Jackson, Jr., Meredith Jackson, Caroline Jackson, and Anthony Brocato, and by his great grandchildren, Cecilia Douthit and Matilda Story.  Anthony is also survived by his sister, Jo Therese Phalen, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Anthony’s pallbearers will be all of his grandchildren. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers at Pelican Bay Assisted Living Community, for their care and devotion to Anthony these past few years.

A gathering of Anthony’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2018, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, with a Christian Vigil to follow at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 7, 2018, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with his interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School, 850 Forsythe Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.