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will miss you, jack
my cousin jack passed away this week, from an unexpected and fast acting cancer. his funeral is tomorrow.
jack was in the army air corp in world war 2, he flew in a B-24 bomber that would shuttle loads of gasoline over the himalayans from india to supply chinese nationalist forces fighting the japanese. he was later decorated by the Republic of China for this. he then worked for thirty eight years in the Boston Public School system, first as a teacher then as a counselor. quite a remarkable fellow. more about him is now published on his web site dedicated to the eighth army air corp.
we were both interested in the family genealogy for the side of our family that we shared; though generally that would degrade into a disagreement about our irish and possibly french roots. our common ancestor had been born in quebec, canada in the mid 19th century. i thought he had solely irish roots, his parents refugees from famined ireland. jack thought they were entirely or at least partially french. but public records then were poor, and we haven’t yet solved the riddle.
John J. “Jack” Brennan Jr.
Of West Roxbury, December 6, 2006. Beloved husband of the late Anne M. (Driscoll) Brennan. Loving father of John J. Brennan III and his wife Maureen R. Tierney Brennan, MD, MSc of Maryland and East Sandwich, and Patricia L. Brennan of Alexandria, VA. Devoted grandfather of John IV and James Brennan. Loving brother of Barbara (Brennan) Smillie of Walpole and the late James F. Brennan. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. WEST ROXBURY on Saturday, December 9 at 9:00 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Theresa of Avila Church at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday from 4-8 PM. Interment Monday, December 11 at 10:15 AM in The Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Late WW II US Army Air Corp Veteran. Retired Pupil Adjustment Counselor, Boston Public Schools. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jack’s memory to The American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 www.lawlerfuneralhome.com Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home 617-323-5600. Published in the Boston Globe on 12/7/2006.
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13. December 2006 at 5:25 pm :
I was saddened to hear of Jack’s passing. Ann Dricoll Brennan was a member of the family that lived next door when I grew up in West Roxbury. Jack was a funny, pleasant neighbor of whom I have only good memories.
John Garvey
13. December 2006 at 5:34 pm :
thanks for the comment, john!
16. December 2006 at 7:02 pm :
John J. Brennan
By Bostonherald.com staff
Monday, December 11, 2006
John J. “Jack” Brennan Jr. of West Roxbury, a decorated World War II veteran and retired Boston public school teacher, died of cancer Wednesday at Boston Center in Roslindale. He was 82.
Born and raised in Brookline, Mr. Brennan graduated from Boston College High School in 1943. He later graduated from Boston College. He had lived in West Roxbury for 50 years.
During World War II, Mr. Brennan enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a radioman/gunner in the B-24 aircraft of the 10th Army Air Corps 7th Bomb Group. Under the command of British Lord Mountbatten, Mr. Brennan completed 37 combat missions over “The Hump,” the Himalayan Mountains, ferrying gasoline from Tezpur, India, to Chinese Nationalist forces in Chengdu, China. He was later decorated for his service by the Republic of China.
After graduating from college, he began a 38-year career with the Boston public schools, first as a teacher at the Rogers School in Hyde Park and later as a pupil adjustment counselor in East Boston, Hyde Park, Roxbury and Mattapan.
Revered throughout the Boston community, Mr. Brennan touched the lives of many.
“My dad worked for many years with children who were abused and emotionally disabled,” said John Brennan III yesterday. “He would talk to the parents, go into the bad neighborhoods and had a reputation for being a straight-shooter.”
According to family lore, during the raucous days of forced busing, he once defused a riot at Hyde Park High when students mistook him for Captain Kangaroo because of his white hair, mustache, double-breasted blazer and friendly demeanor. When the troublemakers spotted him, they froze in amazement and began asking about his sidekick, Mr. Green Jeans. “He’s over at the junior high,” Brennan responded cheerily.
His family recalled he also once faced down an armed teen threatening to start a gunfight, stepping directly into his path.
“I could shoot you right now, Mr. Brennan,” the boy said. Years later, Brennan recalled, “When that kid called me ‘Mr. Brennan,’ I knew I had him. I told him to put the gun away and go home to his mother. He did just as I told him.’
“There are so many stories, so many good, so many sad,” said John Brennan III. “In the end there are many who got help to improve their lives.”
Mr. Brennan was a prolific writer and one of the few conservative satirists of the 1960s and ’70s. His work appeared in the National Review, the Times of London and the Review of the News, as well as many other publications.
He campaigned strongly in South Boston for Boston Mayor Ray Flynn.
“He was always willing and agreeable and helpful,” Flynn said last night. “I can recall him being an effective communicator and teacher with an outstanding reputation. And a very fine man.”
Active in the 8th Air Force Historical Society, Mr. Brennan also served as editor of the Vapor Trails newsletter.
He was a longtime usher at Infant Jesus Church in Brookline.
Husband of the late Anne M. (Driscoll), Mr. Brennan is survived by a daughter, Patricia L. of Alexandria, Va.; a son, John J. III of East Sandwich and Maryland; a sister, Barbara Smillie of Walpole; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday at St. Theresa of Avila Church, West Roxbury.
Burial will be at 10:15 a.m. today in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Funeral arrangements by Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, West Roxbury.