Retired professor dies in crash, husband injured

Antonia Brancia (Maxon), a long-time professor in the Department of Communication Sciences, died May 13 after a car accident in Long Island.

Her husband and colleague, Sjef van den Berg, was badly injured in the crash.

“Toni was absolutely committed to advancing education and practice in pediatric audiology. She touched the lives of many children and their parents,” says James Watt, a communication sciences faculty member until his retirement in 1999 and a close friend of the two.

“She was also an excellent mentor of graduate students, many of whom are now prominent practitioners.

“What came across was her concern for their learning, and her demands that they become excellent in their clinical skills,” Watt adds.

“None of them ever resented her for this. Quite the opposite. She was one of the best-liked professors in the department. This regard extended to her colleagues. She was a genuinely nice person with whom it was pleasant to work.”

Brancia and van den Berg were on Long Island to attend their son Pieter’s graduation from C.W. Post when the accident occurred.

The two were waiting at a traffic light when another car ran into the rear of theirs at high speed, igniting a six-car collision.

Brancia was killed instantly, and van den Berg was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with multiple fractures and internal injuries.

His condition has since been upgraded, and he is expected to begin a lengthy rehabilitation process soon.

The driver of the other car was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide.