Visitation: SATURDAY, Feb. 28, 2015 : 7-9 pm & SUNDAY, Mar. 1, 2015: 2-4 & 7-9 pm at The Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc., 2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst.
Service: MONDAY, Mar. 2, 2015: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 am at St. Aloyisius Gonzaga Church. MIRAND – Albert G.
February 24, 2015, beloved
husband of
Nancy (Kowalski)
Mirand; dear father of
Michael (Vicki),
Timothy, Dr. Amy (Dan
Deer), John Mirand,
Melissa (Cameron) Townsend and
Kathy (Steve) LeGoff; loving
grandfather of Madeleine, Sara, Kate,
Christian, Daniel, Caralyn, Kristen,
Hanna, Jason, Sarah, Colleen and
Dana; brother of Dr. Edwin Mirand and
the late Michael, Frank, Peter, Gerald,
Joseph and Thomas Mirand; brotherin-
law of Elwyn Mirand. Family and
friends may call Saturday from 7-9 PM
and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the
DIETRICH FUNERAL HOME, INC.,
2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst. A
Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated on Monday at 9:30 AM at
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, 157
Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga, 14215.
Please assemble at church. Flowers
gratefully declined. Memorials may be
made to the Wounded Warrior Project
or Hospice Buffalo. Online condolences
at www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com

July 18, 1926 – Feb. 24, 2015

Albert G. Mirand, a World War II combat veteran and retired school principal, died Tuesday in Hospice of the Comforter, Altamonte Springs, Fla., after a short illness. He was 88.

Born in Buffalo, he enlisted in the Army after graduating from Fosdick-Masten Park High School in 1944. He served in combat as a staff sergeant in the 1st Cavalry Division. One of 121 members of the famed special rangers unit of the 6th Battalion, he participated in the liberation of the Cabanatuan prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines, freeing more than 500 survivors of the Bataan Death March. The mission has been documented in Hampton Sides’ book, “Ghost Soldiers” and the movie, “The Great Raid.” He also was part of the occupation forces in Tokyo until 1946.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in social studies and biological sciences from the University of Buffalo in 1950, where he played football for the UB Bulls. He later earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Buffalo in 1962.

Mr. Mirand began his longtime teaching career at Cleveland Hill High School in Cheektowaga in 1951, where he coached the football team, winning four division championships, and wrestling, winning three division championships from 1953 to 1968. He taught social studies and biology until 1969 and served as chairman of the social studies department from 1957-69.

He later held the position of assistant principal at the high school from 1969-76. He was assistant to the superintendent as well as district curriculum coordinator from 1969-80 and served as principal of Cleveland Hill Middle School from 1977-80 and at Cleveland Hill Primary/Middle Schools from 1980-82, when he retired.

After retirement, he moved to Winter Springs, Fla.

Mr. Mirand was founder and past president of++ Western New York Football Coaches Association. He was recipient of several awards, including Western New York Football Coaches Award in 1956, 1960 and 1964; Veterans of Foreign Wars Patriotism Award in 1980; Western New York Directors Award in 1970; and Outstanding
Service Award-Cleveland Hill Teachers’ Association in 1978.

Survivors include his wife, the former Nancy Kowalski; three sons, Michael, Timothy and John; two daughters, Dr. Amy Mirand and Melissa Townsend; a brother, Dr. Edwin Mirand; and 12 grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church, 157 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga.