Donald C., “Chris”, Bracco, 59, of Baytown, passed away Sunday, October 8, 2017, in Baytown.

Chris was born on September 17, 1958 in Fort Worth to parents, Donald A. and Agnes V. Imgrund Bracco.  He spent the majority of his youth in Florida and graduated from Coconut Creek High School in 1976, attended the University of Florida, and enlisted in the Army in 1982.

He was recommended for Officer Candidate School and earned his commission in August of 1983.  He served in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; upon completion of his service moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to complete his education graduating from Florida State University with his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1991.  He also served in the US Army Reserves, completing tours in Ft. Lewis, Washington and South Korea.   Chris and his family moved to Baytown, Texas in 1994, and have resided in Baytown for the past 23 years.  He was a long time member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  He was employed with MD Anderson Cancer Center in IT with Help Desk Support.

Chris had a wide array of interests.   He had a strong love of music, having played the trumpet in high school and college.  He loved all things NASA and space-related, and enjoyed sharing the excitement he had for having grown up on the “Space Coast” of Florida.  He loved science, science-fiction, and had an active interest in politics and had served as a Precinct Judge for several years in Baytown, Texas.  His other interests included bicycling, reading, and carpentry.  His keenest interest most recently, was being a proud grandfather to his favorite granddaughter, Merritt McBride.

He encountered a stroke in January 2016 and worked hard at his rehabilitation and was a graduate of the TIRR Challenge Program, which helped him to return to work with the gracious support of his supervisors at MD Anderson.

Chris was preceded in death by his father.  He is survived by his mother, Agnes Shoenthal and her husband, Donald; his wife of 33 years, Gina Condatore Bracco; daughters, Maria Bracco and Kathryn McBride and her husband, Blake, and granddaughter, Merritt McBride; sisters, Margaret “Micki” Young and her husband, Gene, and Nancy Hull and her husband, Mike, and nephews, Justin Young and Steven Mion, and his wife, Hilary; and numerous extended family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the rosary services at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2017, in the Chapel of Crespo and Jirrels Funeral Home.  Rite of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 17, 2017, at The St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Baytown.  Graveside services will be held at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Houston National Cemetery in Houston, with burial following thereafter.

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