Marcel Bratu MD, of Hamden, died on August 6, 2019 at the CT Hospice in Branford. Son of the late attorney Solomon and Cilia (Stern) Zalman, he was born in Dorohoi, Romania, on December 25th, 1924. He was the husband of Mary (Linscher) Bratu for more than 69 years. Beside her, he leaves a daughter, Monica (Ariel) Talmor of Hamden, a son Alex Bratu (Mary Anne Sulik) of Milford CT and 2 grandchildren, Michael and Maia Talmor. He was predeceased by his sister, Dr. Dorothea (Maurice) Rodescu. Dr. Bratu had a large family spread out in the USA, Europe, Israel and Canada. He graduated from the Medical School of the University Of Bucharest, Romania, in 1949. After 15 years of pediatric practice in Communist Romania, his last job being Director and Chairman of the Constantza Children's Hospital, his family of 10 immigrated to the USA in 1964. He served as an intern at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, NY for a year and then as a resident in Pediatrics at St. Raphael's Hospital in New Haven, CT for the next 2 years, the last of which he was Chief Resident. In 1967 he was appointed Assistant Chairman of the Pediatrics Department at St. Raphael's. In 1969, he became certified by the Board of Pediatrics and made a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He wrote a few articles on pediatric medicine for national journals. Starting in 1969 he was in private practice in New Haven, Derby, Ansonia, and Oxford and served as an attending pediatrician at Yale New Haven Medical Center, St. Raphael's, and Griffin Hospital Dr. Bratu had an appointment as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine until his retirement. He also served as Pediatric Consultant at the Connecticut State Department of Health from 1985 to 1990. He found time to go to Fenway Park, being a great fan of the Red Sox. Aside from his family, he enjoyed classical music, opera, and fishing.

Graveside funeral services will be held at B'nai Jacob Memorial Park, Wintergreen, Ave. New Haven Friday at 11:00am. The Weller Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. New Haven is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions can be made to the Chapter of the American Heart Association, Wallingford, CT 06492 or to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, 251 Post Street, Suite 600, San Francisco CA 94108.