Paul M. Branch ’48


Paul M. Branch ’48 died at home in Olean, New York, his birthplace, on January 20. He graduated from Olean High School before entering Army service in 1944-45 at City College of New York and University of Delaware. He majored in economics before moving on to Tuck School for an M.B.A. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Upsilon and Green Key. Returning to Olean, he entered the family insurance business and founded the Iroquois Group, a network of five agencies, in the 1970s. At the time of his death it had grown to include 1,800 agencies in 37 states. Paul was heavily involved in civic, social and educational endeavors in and around Olean, including St. Bonaventure College and the Chautauqua Institution. In 1953 he married Claire “Toni” Armstrong, who predeceased him in 2007. He is survived by children William ’77, Laurie ’79, Amy, Christopher and Paul.