James Joseph Brennan entered Eternal Rest on August 13, 2025, at the age of 90.
Entering this world on November 14, 1934, in Bronx, NY, he was the third child born to the late Bertha (Bradley) and George Brennan, originally of Buncrana, Donegal.
His siblings Mary (O’Loughlin) and George preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne Nancy (Kelly) Brennan, formerly of Bronx, NY, and Stamford, CT, son, Liam B. Brennan (Rebecca Borné) of New Haven, CT, and daughter, Kathleen Á. (Brennan) Foley (Timothy Foley) of Monroe, CT. Affectionately known as “Pops” or “Popi”, he is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Ciaran, Eamon, Eliza Maeve, and Dermot Borné-Brennanand Fiona, Nora, and Caelie Foley. In addition, there are many loving nieces and nephews proud to call him Uncle Jim or Uncle Jay.
Jim was ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1960 after graduating from Regis High School and St. Joseph’s Seminary. He served as a parish priest at St. Francis de Chantal Church in Throgs Neck for seven years. He then entered the US Army and served as a Catholic chaplain for three years, one of which was in Vietnam. While with the Army, Jim was the recipient of 2 Bronze Stars, the Army Air Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and Oak Leaf Cluster.
After service with the Army, Jim returned to New York to work at St. Denis Parish and Catholic Charities, Westchester. He later resigned from the diocese and married, moving to Connecticut. In the years that followed, he worked for New York State, establishing group homes for the developmentally and physically disabled. He retired in 2002 and had the pleasure of living in Lake Suzy, Florida, where he loved to play golf and continue his travels with Nancy. After 12 years in Florida, Jim and Nancy decided to return to Connecticut to be closer to and spend more time with their children and grandchildren.
Back in West Haven, CT, Jim was an active member of St. Thomas More Chapel where he also worked regularly in the soup kitchen. Although the more formal of the pair, Jim still loved to lift the rafters in song at church and cut a rug on the dance floor wherever he was. He would top it all off with an evening indulgence of Nancy’s chocolate chip cookies. Known to all as one of the most kind and gentle souls, Jim never had a bad word to say about anyone and was always looking to offer a hand of help to anyone who needed or wanted it. It is this kindness and gentle generosity that will be remembered and missed by all who knew and loved him. As he did in life, Jim will continue to serve others in death through the donation of his body to the Yale School of Medicine as his final sacrifice to further our knowledge and research on the effects of Agent Orange and other long-term health issues impacting our Veterans.
A Catholic Memorial Mass will be held on August 23, 2025 at 11am at St. Thomas More Chapel, 268 Park St, New Haven, CT 06511. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center at 114 Boston Post Rd., Ground Floor, West Haven, CT 06516 or to St. Thomas More Soup Kitchen, 268 Park St. New Haven, CT 06511.