Emmanuel Bravo

DR. EMMANUEL LACERNA BRAVO, age 91, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2025. Beloved husband for almost 40 years of Joanne Marie (nee Rowe) Bravo; loving father of Mark Emmanuel (Colleen Mohney), Paul Michael (Jamie Beauparlant), Lisa Marie Bravo-Hankins (Dave Hankins), and Mary Jo Bravo-Giancola (Nick Giancola); devoted grandfather of Christopher and Danielle Hankins, Sophia, Michael, and the late Nicholas Giancola, and Emmanuel Bravo; cherished son of Bernardo and Felicidad (nee Lacerna); dearest brother of five siblings.

Emmanuel grew up in Quezon City, Philippines and attended Ateneo de Manila where he excelled in academics as well as athletics. He was a member of the Philippine National Soccer Team from 1952-1956 and a member of the Track and Field Team. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at Ateneo in November 1997. He went on to study medicine at the University of the East, graduating in 1961.

Following his graduation, he came to the United States and completed training at the Cleveland Clinic Research Institute, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, the National Institute of Health's Endocrinology Branch in Bethesda, Maryland, and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He was also a trainee of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) in investigative and academic medicine in Washington, D.C., resulting in a double specialty in Endocrinology and Nephrology. It was during his time at St. Vincent Charity Hospital that he met the love of his life, Joanne. 

After his work at the NIH, he returned to Cleveland in 1970. He joined the staff at the Cleveland Clinic, establishing the Endocrine-Hypertension Research Lab to study pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism, making the Cleveland Clinic the largest clinical center studying these complex diseases.

Following his retirement from the Cleveland Clinic in 1998, he worked as a Field Medical Director for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. He continued to work for the Cleveland Clinic as a consultant and trained countless residents and fellows. He was a pioneer in research for hypertension and the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma for which he lectured around the world and published in medical journals. In 2011, he was named the 34th most influential physician in the storied history of the Cleveland Clinic.

In addition to being an accomplished physician, he was a beloved Dad and Pappa. He will be remembered as a kind and generous man who loved his dogs and his grandchildren more than anything. He loved to cook, watch sports, and spend time each summer at Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, with his family. 

To honor his wishes, there will not be funeral services. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 10th, 2026, from 1pm-4pm at the Intercontinental Hotel- 9801 Carnegie Ave Cleveland, OH. All are welcome to attend. We thank Cleveland Clinic Hospice for their loving care of our Dad.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Dr. Manny Bravo to Cleveland Clinic's Kidney Medicine Research and Education. Gifts can be sent to Cleveland Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655 or made online at give.ccf.org. Please include Dr. Manny Bravo and Kidney Medicine Research and Education in the check memo.

Cremation by DeJohn Crematory. Arrangements by THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS.