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Romance on the Ferry

Alfred J. Braca and his wife, Jean, met on the Staten Island Ferry. He was smitten; she was not. He pleaded for a date, and she said no. But he persisted, and she finally gave in after they shared a marathon 12-hour phone conversation. On that date, "he gave me one kiss," his wife recalled. "And I said, 'Maybe this is not so bad.' "

That first kiss bloomed into 33 years of marriage, and a good life with four children, David, Deanna, Christina and Christopher, in Leonardo, N.J. Mr. Braca, 54, was a born-again Christian who never stopped counting his blessings.

He worked as a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald, where co-workers nicknamed him The Rev because of his faith. Just last month, Mr. Braca walked Deanna down the aisle for her wedding. His funeral service will take place in the same church.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on September 22, 2001.