Edward A. Brennan II

He was born Edward Allen Brennan II, but to family and friends he was Eddie, a charismatic family man with an easy smile and a quick wit. Eddie, 69, died Dec. 21 after a brief illness. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he lived most of his life in the warmer climate of Florida where he met the love of his life, Cindy.He was introduced to his other love, the drums, as a student at St. Williams School growing up in Savin Hill. He played in dozens of bands including Johnny White and the Alpine Express, Dewey Smith and the Sundowners and, more recently, Take 5 and Complicated. His early career had him playing warm-up to country and western legends Ernest Tubbs and Hank Williams, among others. Friends and family

could count on Eddie greeting them with his signature, “How you doin?” followed by a firm, loving hug. He loved entertaining, which sometimes included dressing up as a leprechaun or as Santa. His arm could be twisted to play his signature tune, “Wipeout,” as long as there were sticks and a drum set nearby. A 1965 graduate of Cathedral High School, he was a veteran the U.S. Navy. It was during his service in Pensacola that he met and married Cindy, his wife of 49 years.

He split most of his years in Florida between Pensacola and Jacksonville. He also lived briefly in Massachusetts and North Carolina. Eddie retired from NAS Jacksonville after spending 33 years, 3 months and 3 days in civil service. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots and loved teasing friends and family members who had the misfortune of rooting for other teams. Besides Cindy, he is survived by his children, Nancy Erickson and her husband, Ty, of Jacksonville, and his sons Edward and his wife, Lisa, of Pensacola, and Jamie Rowan and his wife, Kristi, of Altoona, Alabama. He was the brother of Mary Ellen Caesar of Massachusetts, Joseph Brennan of North Carolina, Dennis Brennan of Michigan, Terry McKenna, John Brennan and George Brennan, all of Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward A. and Helen Brennan, as well as his brother, Fran. Eddie was the loving grandfather to Chelsea and Kayla; Jacob, Noah, Adam and Isaac; and Haley and Lacey. He also had four great-grandchildren, Rheed, Addilyn, Brody, Karsyn and many nieces and nephews and too many cousins to count. A funeral Mass is scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Sacred Heart Church, Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. If this isn't possible, please consider giving blood in Eddie's honor.