Thomas Brennan

September 17, 1945 — May 24, 2024

Thomas E. Brennan, 78, of Glendale passed away peacefully in his sleep Friday, May 24, 2024 after a period of declining health. He was the son of the late William A. Brennan, Jr. and the late Ethel M. (Mossberg) Brennan. Born in 1945 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, he was a graduate of Attleboro High School Class of 1963 where he enjoyed playing the clarinet in the marching band. He also spent time assisting his Uncle Jack in his surveying business and playing basketball, starting his lifelong devotion to not only the Boston Celtics, but all Boston sports teams. Following in his uncle's footsteps, he attended Northeastern University in Boston, earning Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering while participating in the ROTC program. After college Tom entered the U.S. Army and served with the Army Corps of Engineers until 1971, leaving with the rank of First Lieutenant. He spent his last year with the Army in Vietnam with the 84 ^th Engineering Battalion overseeing construction of helicopter pads. Tom moved to the Milwaukee area in 1972, working at local engineering firms, as well as the MMSD (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District), from which he retired in 2014. He worked for many years on MMSD projects both as a consultant at CH2M Hill and as an employee of the MMSD. One of his more significant projects included the installation of landfill gas turbines at the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility which reduced dependance on natural gas. Coworkers relied on Tom's extensive design and construction experience to review their documents and his willingness to mentor new staff. Tom was a soft-spoken, kind, friendly man with a dry wit. Tom walked often, especially after retiring, and was well known and beloved in his Glendale neighborhood of River Edge. He was known by many, striking up conversations with all he met. All local dogs knew that when walking by Tom's house, if the garage door was open, they must turn into the driveway for the treats Tom stocked especially for them. Tom was also an avid collector of model trains and duck decoys, and liked to attend local train shows and expositions. He would often set up multiple train tracks in his home for his friends to enjoy. Tom was the brother of the late William G. Brennan and the beloved nephew of the late John and Jacqueline Vance. He leaves his cousins Charlene Sullivan, Mark Vance and Susan Murray, who regarded Tom as a brother. He also leaves nephews Donald Brennan and William Brennan, and niece Doreen Jewitt. He leaves behind countless friends, including many who helped Tom (and his family) regularly after he fell ill. Services will be private in his native Massachusetts at a later date. Interment will be in his family's plot in Oak Knoll Cemetery, Rehoboth, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Wisconsin Humane Society or Lucky Mutts Rescue in Milwaukee. The family has compiled a lovely video which can be viewed by selecting the third option labeled (photo and video), which is in between the memory wall option, next to the red send flowers button.

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Thomas Brennan

September 17, 1945 — May 24, 2024

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