MATTHEW WILLIAM BRANNAU, formerly of Narberth, a former athletic director at Waldron Mercy Academy and co-founder of High School Highlights Productions, passed away suddenly on Saturday February 25, 2006 at his residence in Gladwyne, PA. He was 42.

A 1978 graduate of Waldron, Brannau returned in 1997 to become the athletic director for the school. During his eight year tenure, he taught fourth grade and coached football, basketball and softball.

After the last school year, he left Waldron to work full-time on High School Highlights with co-founder Tony Romano. The company televised Philadelphia Catholic League Football games live on WMCN on Friday nights during the regular season. Brannau occasionally served as a sideline reporter during the telecasts.

Matt attended St. Joseph's Prep and was named to the All-Catholic League Football 2nd team as a defensive back in 1981. He was a letter-winner at Fairleigh Dickinson University and would later go on to work as an assistant football coach at Archbishop Carroll and St. John Neumann. His father Bill was the head football coach at Prep and a teacher at Neumann.

"I actually thought that's all there was when I was growing up," recalled Brannau last August about his decision to televise PCL football. "To me it was a way of growing up, and I just wanted to get back to the Catholic League."

Matt was the beloved husband of Sheila Porter Brannau. Devoted father of Madlene, Hannah, Katie, Matthew, Brian, Mary Claire, William and the late Brittany and Gracie. He is also survived by his parents William and Gertrude "Cookie" McCullough Brannau; brother William; sister Michele; 5 nieces and 2 nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday March 4, 11:00 AM at Presentation B.V.M. Church, 204 Haverford Rd., Wynnewood, PA. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Friday from 6 to 9 PM at McConaghy Funeral Home, 328 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore PA. or Saturday from 9 to 11 AM at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Matt Brannau Children's Education Fund, c/o Bryn Mawr Trust Co., P.O. Box 928, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.