Davis High School, he was undefeated as a pitcher, throwing two no-hitters, and as a senior was named the New York Metropolitan Area baseball player of the year.
As Commissioner, Mr. Branca pioneered the approach of providing needed services and activities for senior citizens, the handicapped and mentally challenged who might have had to seek institutional settings.
He served as coordinating council of the Westchester Mental Health Board and task force chairman for the development of recreational facilities for the handicapped.
In addition to Commissioner of Recreation, in 1972 John became a Radio Sports Announcer at WVOX, broadcasting the Pepsi High school Game of the week in Basketball, Football, Baseball and Hockey.
As a junior Assemblyman; he introduced legislation that brought 46 million dollars in State aid for schools and youth programs.
He was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo as Chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, with the goal "to revitalize and professionalize the boxing profession".
[4] As commissioner, he pushed for the use of thumbless boxing gloves, added portable computers at ringside to allow officials to verify the boxing records of late substitutions on a card and supported the creation of a national system to track boxers after questions had been raised after the brain injury death of lightweight Isidro Perez after being knocked out in a fight to Juan Ramon Cruz in October 1983 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden.
[3] Branca announced that he would have all three judges be women for a middleweight title fight between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Mustafa Hamsho, calling the move "a great publicity gimmick".
[5] He resigned from the athletic commission in November 1984, 16 months after taking on the post, to run for Mayor of Mount Vernon, following the death of Thomas Sharpe in February.