Joseph F. Brennan, age 85, of Wilmington, DE passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 2, 2012 after suffering a debilitating stroke and a brief period of hospitalization. He was born on November 1, 1926 on Staten Island, NY to Harry and Catherine (Paris) Brennan.
Joe grew up on Staten Island, NY, graduated from Pace University with a degree in Finance and Accounting, met and married Eileen J. Timothy, started a family and subsequently moved to Ramsey, NJ. While raising a family of five, Joe and Eileen were actively involved in local schools, civic and political affairs and warmly-regarded throughout the community. After starting his career at Gray Autograph, Joe joined International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (now ITT Industries) in New York City where he served in a variety of financial control and management roles at ITT’s corporate headquarters in New York before relocating with his family to Hong Kong in 1976, where he served as Group Financial Comptroller for the Asia-Pacific Region, initially in Hong Kong and subsequently in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1981, the family returned to Bergen County, NJ and, after taking early retirement, they settled in Wilmington, DE.
Joe’s loving wife and lifelong companion, Eileen, passed away unexpectedly in December 2011. Joe is survived by his sons Timothy J. Brennan and his wife, Georgina of London, England, Thomas J. Brennan and his wife, Geralyn of Corvallis, OR, John J. Brennan of New York, NY; daughters, Mary Pat Hinder and her husband, Steven of Aberdeen, MD and Eileen Burkley and her husband, John of Elkton, MD; and brothers Kenneth and George Brennan of San Diego, CA and Manahawkin, NJ respectively.
He is also survived by his eleven grandchildren, Emma Brennan, Sarah Brennan, Lucy Brennan, Jack Brennan, Gioacchino Brennan, Alex Hinder, Luke Hinder, Kate Hinder, Charlotte Burkley, Janie Burkley and Julia Burkley.
At the request of the family, services will be held privately and at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or The Fresh Air Fund of New York, c/o R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A. (formerly Gee Funeral Home), 259 East Main Street, Elkton, MD 21921.