Anthony J. Pranzo (d. 2012) was a popular teacher and principal for 23 years. After his death in 2012 from pancreatic cancer, Community Education Council 24 recommended that his school, P.S. 113 be renamed in his honor "because the late principal turned the school into a beacon of academic excellence," according to a report from QNS in 2013.

The school had previously been named for Isaac Chauncy, U.S. Naval officer who fought in the War of 1812.

At the 2013 CEC 24 meeting, the new PS 113 principal, Alejandro Megias, noted that Pranzo "turned that building into a family made up of teachers, parents and children.”